District 99 outlines $5 million in health‑life‑safety projects, plans A/E and construction management work; board to consider formal approvals next meeting

District 99 staff told the school board they have completed a health‑life‑safety survey and estimate roughly $5.0 million in repair and upgrade work across the two high schools, and they outlined a plan to contract design and construction‑management services and to consider bond issuance this fall.

Nut graf: The presentation summarized which items the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) approved and which it did not, the district’s health‑life‑safety funding options (including use of Fund 90 and possible bond issuance), and requested the board’s future authorization to proceed with architectural, bidding and construction management procurement handled by White and Company.

Travis, a district staff member who presented the report, said the ISBE did not approve approximately $334,000 of proposed work (mostly related to replacing reinforced glass with safety glass) and that the ISBE‑approved estimate, including contingencies and A/E fees, is just over $5 million. "Category A is just over $356,000," he said, and category B accounted for the largest share (about $4.5 million) with North’s pool structure noted as a major contributor.

Travis outlined next steps: request board approval at the next meeting to engage White and Company to prepare bidding documents and provide architectural and engineering services (the firm’s proposal is 8.75% of the cost of work, not to exceed approximately $393,000) and to seek approval to use White and Company for construction management (estimated cost about $416,000, including preconstruction and construction‑management fees). "That cost is included in the ISB‑approved amounts for A/E fees," Travis said, but staff noted the construction‑management fee would not be covered by ISBE approval and would need to be funded from the district’s operations budget unless other sources are identified.

Assistant business staff Jeri said the district has been consulting a bond underwriter and intends to meet with the underwriter in early fall to evaluate timing and options; the underwriter suggested issuing bonds earlier in the market cycle rather than waiting until spring. "We're able to issue these bonds without going to a referendum," Jeri said, noting the levy for such bonds would not inherit the tax cap. Board members asked about levy timing, Fund 90 (the Health Life Safety fund), and whether the district could complete categories A and B during the next summer; staff said they are confident A and B can be completed next summer if the board approves the procurement and funding plan.

No contract for White and Company or bond issuance was approved at this meeting; staff said they will seek formal board action at the next regular meeting once bids and underwriting options are better defined.

Ending: The board asked staff to provide further budget details and a timeline; staff offered to meet with board members who missed prior discussions and to return in October with bond/timing options and a request for formal procurement approval.