U-46 details construction progress, new elementary plans and stormwater work

School District U-46 officials told the Board of Education on June 16 that construction and design work across the district is progressing, with notable advances at Hawk Hollow, Kenyon Woods and Kimball middle schools and plans to convert Illinois Park to an elementary school and build a new elementary on the former David C. Cook site.

The update, delivered by Dr. Anne Williams, deputy superintendent of operations, and Brian Lindholm, chief of staff, emphasized completed exterior work at Hawk Hollow Middle School, interior advances in the kitchen and cafetorium, and near-complete gym bleachers. "The transformation of the new Hawk Hollow Middle School continues to make impressive progress in all key areas," Williams said. She added that the site now features a new concrete plaza at the secured main entrance and that kitchen equipment installation is well underway.

The district reported roughly 25% completion of the summer work at Kenyon Woods Middle School and said crews experienced about five weather-related delay days this season. Lindholm noted a heavy day recently where about 60 tradespeople worked into the night to keep the schedule moving. At Kimball Middle School, the district described a two-year project being carried out with students on-site, including installation of a below-ground "storm trap" system installed and then covered with soil to manage stormwater runoff.

Illinois Park — built in 1999 and originally opened as an elementary — is being planned to return to K–5 use in time for the 2026–27 school year. The district said the building sits on nearly 8 acres and that DLA Architects has been assigned to the project. Officials showed a draft site plan with revised driveways, drop-off areas and a small east-side addition for a multipurpose room. "We have a meeting with the city of Elgin planning and development team tomorrow to confirm the requirements," Lindholm said, adding the district had reached out to the Garden Quarter Homeowners Association about a possible easement for pedestrian and emergency access.

District officials also presented plans for a new elementary school on the former David C. Cook property on North Grove Avenue. The district purchased the property last year and is leasing it back to David C. Cook while the company completes its move; district staff said the site is scheduled to be vacated in mid-to-late July. The proposed building footprint is approximately 86,000 square feet and early designs call for geothermal and solar systems and efforts to preserve mature trees. "We view this as a really neat place to build a U-46 school," Lindholm said.

Board members asked for follow-ups on details officers said they would return with. One board member asked whether Kimball’s storm trap functions like detention at another new middle school site; Williams said the new Elgin middle school will have a detention pond rather than a storm trap system and offered to bring size comparisons at a future update.

The presentation closed with a promise of more detailed updates next month for Century Oaks and Glenbrook projects.