The District 153 school board on March 21 approved six contracts totaling $4.03 million for construction work this summer at Willow, Churchill and James Hart Schools in Homewood.
Staff from construction manager Gibane reviewed the bids and gave the board its recommendation for the indoor air quality work, as well as general construction work estimated to cost nearly $9.4 million.
The board sold $8.2 million in bonds to finance the work, and is using $1.2 million in pandemic relief appropriated through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act for improvements to school buildings.
The work will include updates to the HVAC systems in each of the schools; adding two classrooms at Churchill; adding a mobile unit at Willow with four classrooms and two offices; replacing the boilers at James Hart and Willow; installing new window coverings for greater energy sufficiency; roof repairs at the three schools; renovations to all school bathrooms.
The contracts are:
• $1,034,275 contract to Chicago Heights Construction Co. for general trades work at the three schools.
• $892,000 contract to Helm Mechanical for HVAC work at Churchill.
• $1,272,460 contract to Quality Control Systems, Inc. for HVAC work at James Hart and Willow.
• $495,000 contract to Interactive Building Solutions, LLC for temperature controls at Willow, Churchill and James Hart.
• $336,700 contract to McWilliams Electric Co. for electrical work at the three schools.
• $190,200 contract to McWilliams Electric Co. for the electrical service update at Churchill and a new boiler and pump electrical panel at Willow.
The board also awarded a $29,762 contract to Hygieneering, Inc. for asbestos abatement. Because the schools were constructed in the 1950s and 1960s, asbestos was used as an insulator. It has since been registered as a carcinogen. None of the asbestos is exposed to students or staff, but Superintendent Scott McAlister said he expects when construction begins that asbestos may be disturbed in the buildings. Hygieneering will assure that workers properly handle the removal of the asbestos.
The board previously awarded a $645,049 contract to Trane USA for indoor air quality mechanical equipment, and a $275,727 contract to Vesta Modular for a four-classroom mobile unit to be installed at Willow. The contract covers delivery and sitework costs with a 36-month lease of $4,860 per month. The board approved a $27,550 expense for utility hook-ups between the school building and the modular unit.
