Danville schools seek pros' help in facilities planning
DANVILLE – Danville school officials are seeking professional help to put together a long-range facilities plan for the district.
School board members on Wednesday approved seeking from professional firms: a proposal for building assessments of the district's 11 schools, the Jackson Building and the bus garage; a proposal for a 10-year life safety study for the district; and a proposal combining the work.
The firm that is chosen will identify all of the work that needs to be done to the buildings, including the roof, masonry, electrical, heating and cooling systems, lights, windows, sidewalks, parking lots, etc. It will also provide cost estimates for projects and prioritize them.
"It's going to be very in-depth," Buildings and Grounds Director Ron Henton said, adding the plan will help officials best determine how to address the needs of the district's aging buildings as funding becomes available.
The district's high school, two middle schools and eight elementaries range in age from 106-year-old Garfield Elementary to 8-year-old Southwest Elementary. The majority were built in the early to mid-20th century and need improvements.
Needs range from roof replacements at Garfield, Liberty and Meade Park elementaries; roof work, tuck-pointing and masonry work at Danville High School; electrical work at Edison, Cannon and Garfield; drainage work around the perimeter of two-story buildings; and updated restrooms in most of the buildings.
Henton said the request for formal proposals will be advertised today. The proposals are due on Nov. 30.
Administrators will take the top three proposals and try to negotiate a price with each firm before coming back to the board with a recommendation.
Henton said the firm's study will take about three months to complete. Superintendent Mark Denman said he hopes the district can get started on some of the work next summer.
Also on this date
- First H1N1 vaccine, for health workers, has arrived
- Mourners pay respects to shooting victim in the rain
- Prospect-Curtis intersection to reopen on Friday
- Chicago senator speaks to Jackson, calls for healing
- Wind energy students get massive learning tool
- Gill announces another run for U.S. House seat
- Survey: Homeless population's increase continues
- Students hosting organ-donor drives on campuses
- Georgetown high school, junior high miss state goals
- Obituaries