The District 153 school board agreed to sell $2.82 million in life safety bonds Feb. 3 to underwrite summer work at Willow School, 1804 Willow Road in Homewood.
Chief School Business Official Eric Trimberger was happy to get a 3.85% interest rate for the two-year loan. The district will receive a $1.4 million property tax relief grant from the state, and another $50,000 Illinois State Board of Education grant awarded to help with school improvements.
The summer projects include a new roof for Willow. In December, the board approved a $2,441,966 contract with DCG Roofing for the roof and 59 drain replacements. The company will have 60 days to complete the work.
The district will save about 17.5% of the cost by working directly with the roofing company rather than hiring an architect for the Willow job. The roof will have a 30-year warranty.
Also at the meeting, the board approved a $435,229 contract with Krull Window Co. to replace the building’s windows.
The board congratulated the eighth grade girls basketball team for taking fourth place in the Illinois Elementary School Association’s state competition held in December in Normal, Illinois.
Team members are Kylee Evans, Khloe Figures, Gavynn Hall, Cirai Henderson, Lynn Hill, Alonna Latham, Isabella Laxton, Mykel Leigh, Jia Tyler, Skylar White and Taja White. Team coaches are Chris Blankenship and Henry Stuttley.
Blankenship said the team didn’t have a great beginning to the season, “but what matters is how you end” as one of the top four middle school girls basketball teams in the state. “This is the first time the girls have put a banner on the (James Hart) wall,” Blankenship said. He thanked the parents for their continued support.
The board also approved the 2025-26 school year calendar. The first day of school will be Aug. 20, and the last day is May 29. Winter break will be Dec. 22 through Jan. 2. Spring break will be March 30 through April 3. Students will be in school 174 days.
