Kaneland shifts from referendum planning to detailed construction planning; core teams to begin Aug. 13

Kaneland Community Unit School District 302 officials told the board on July 28 that they are transitioning focus from referendum planning to detailed construction planning and have started assembling core planning teams to advise project design and equipment choices. "We are continuing to work on the referendum related projects and kind of shifting our mindset from referendum really to construction planning," the superintendent said. Administrators said they have notified community members selected for core planning teams and formed a steering committee that has visited several districts' facilities, including Rochelle, Harlem, Richmond-Burton, McHenry, Huntley and Burlington, to gather design and equipment ideas. The steering committee reviewed field houses, stadiums, science labs and career and technical education spaces. Officials said the district is reviewing industry partners for playgrounds and furniture to ensure consistency across buildings, and that playgrounds and furniture selection will be coordinated with architects and the construction manager. The superintendent said the district will host the first core planning-team meeting on Aug. 13 at the high school. When asked about the planned field-house size, meeting presenters said the total addition is slated to be about 78,000 square feet but that interior layouts (ceiling height, storage placement, spectator areas, HVAC and locker-room configuration) are customizable and will be informed by the planning teams and staff. Board members discussed examples from other districts of trade-offs such as storage placement, ceiling height and air conditioning. No formal actions were taken on construction items at the meeting; staff described next steps and said the steering committee will synthesize community and staff input and bring recommendations to the steering committee and board as design decisions are refined.