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Board approves $9.45M in James Hart life-safety work and $176K at Willow; district plans bond sales
Summary
Following a facilities assessment from Studio GC, the Homewood SD 153 board approved life-safety amendments for James Hart School (roughly $9.45 million for roofing and HVAC) and Willow School ($176,250) and discussed selling bonds in two installments to fund repairs without raising the debt portion of taxpayers' bills, officials said.
The Board of Education of Homewood School District 153 approved life-safety amendments on Sept. 15 to address facility repairs identified in a districtwide assessment by architect Studio GC.
The largest single amendment approved that evening covers James Hart School and totals $9,453,289.78, the board was told. The scope includes approximately $6.5 million for roofing work and roughly $1.5 million for heating and air-conditioning work; the amount includes architect fees (7.5 percent) and a 10 percent contingency, administration said.
For Willow School the board approved a separate life-safety amendment to replace five classroom unit ventilators that had been omitted from earlier construction, at a base cost of $150,000 and a total with fees and contingency of $176,250. The projects were described as scheduled for work in 2026.
Studio GC's districtwide review identified roughly $31 million in life-safety amendments across all buildings, the administration said. Dr. Eric Trimberger summarized the categories used by the Illinois State Board of Education: urgent "category A" items must be completed within one year, "category B" within five years and "category C" are maintenance items. Trimberger said the district's assessment included a little over $1 million in category A items, about $14 million in category B and approximately $15 million in category C.
On financing, Trimberger told the board the district plans to sell life-safety bonds in two installments (late 2025 and calendar year 2026) and said the debt could be structured "so there won't be any additional cost to our taxpayers on the debt portions of their property tax." The board also heard that the district is working with its financial advisor, Raymond James, to explore options for leveraging financing without increasing taxpayer burden.
Board action: A motion to approve the amendments for James Hart School ($9,453,289.78) and Willow School ($176,250) passed by roll call (six ayes). The board previously heard Studio GC's full assessment at a Committee of the Whole meeting.
What it means: The approvals start procurement and design work required to bid and complete roofing and mechanical repairs. Administration said the projects will be underway in 2026 and that the new superintendent will inherit an active facilities program requiring oversight.
