District approves $150,004 change order as Libertyville High School cafeteria work slips into fall

Libertyville — The school board approved a $150,003.98 change order for the Libertyville High School (LHS) cafeteria project on July 28, after district staff told the facilities and finance committee that unforeseen conditions will delay substantial completion of the servery and courtyard into the fall.

District officials said the new kitchen is complete and functional but the servery and courtyard will not be finished by the Aug. 11 start of classes. Ray Albin, LHS principal, said the kitchen “is fully functional. It'll still be functional when we start school,” and described a plan to keep some work behind temporary walls so food service can operate.

District staff and their construction manager, Gilbane, reported that crews uncovered asbestos inside walls, found unsuitable soils in the courtyard and encountered structural conditions that required additional steel and shoring. Mark (facilities staff) and Dan Stanley (facilities and finance presenter) described a sequence of stops for abatement and re‑engineering that led to multiple enforced delays and a revised timeline: the district and contractor are targeting Oct. 1 for substantial completion of the servery and November 1 for courtyard work tied to faculty dining and additional seating.

To support the start of school, the district will reinstall the temporary serving arrangement used in spring and reopen the primary seating area. Albin said new seating finishes and furniture will be in place for the Aug. 11 start; temporary walls will isolate active work in the servery and courtyard so students can eat in the finished seating sections. The district estimates seating capacity at about 450 and noted last year’s largest lunch period was about 420 students.

The board approved the change order at the regular meeting after committee discussion. Facilities staff told the board that, even after approving the change order, roughly $200,000 remained in project contingency. The item was presented as a contract change order (ATP‑0004) from Gilbane for additional time and associated costs.

District leaders said communications to families and staff about temporary serving arrangements will be distributed just before school starts. Staff emphasized the temporary nature of the arrangements and that the kitchen will be cleaned and fully operational when school opens.

The project timeline, contingency balances and temporary service plan were discussed in committee and brought to the full board for approval of the change order. Board members voted to approve the $150,003.98 change order at the July 28 meeting.

Less critical details: the district will keep Room 136 set up as an alternative faculty dining room until the courtyard and faculty dining areas are complete; some finish work (bookcases and final vents in classrooms) may extend a short time beyond Aug. 11 but HVAC and univent work are expected to be operational at the start of school.