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Board awards first round of contracts for middle school capital projects after bids come under estimate
Summary
CUSD 200 awarded three contracts to start the middle school capital project; administrators said the first bid package came in well under earlier estimates and work will begin this summer after school ends.
CUSD 200’s Board of Education awarded the first round of construction contracts for the district’s middle school capital projects and discussed how the low bid results affect the program budget and schedule.
Administrators recommended awarding Bid Package 1 to Monarch Construction of Elk Grove Village for $2,645,100; Bid Package 2 (mechanical work) to Helm Mechanical of Westmont for $671,500; and Bid Package 3 to Meany Inc. of East Hazel Crest for $1,130,500. The board approved the awards in a roll call vote.
Superintendent Dr. Schuler told the board the first set of bids covered work at Monroe Middle School for the coming summer and some “enabling” work related to additions. He said the results were “a good first start” and that the awards were a “commitment to make sure that this work…comes in on time and on or under budget.”
District administrators and construction staff described some of the technical choices embedded in the bid package. One discussion point was adding natural light to windowless classrooms at Monroe: administration presented two alternatives — a skylight option and a solar (light) tube option. The skylight alternative was chosen after staff noted the skylights would require fewer roof penetrations than the solar tube system, and the cost differential was smaller than expected. The skylights will include operating shades, which require additional electrical work; mechanical work will relocate some ductwork to accommodate the new roof openings.
Chief operating staff said the first contract work will begin “literally within 30 minutes after the last day of our school year,” reflecting the district’s brief summer construction window. Officials emphasized that the first bid package represents a relatively small portion of the overall program — administration said the current awards represent about 3% of the total anticipated program budget — and that larger bid issuances for new construction spaces and interior renovations will follow in subsequent months.
Why it matters: These awards allow the district to start summer enabling and renovation work at Monroe Middle School. The selection of skylights over solar tubes also reflects tradeoffs among long‑term roofing integrity, mechanical changes and upfront costs.
What’s next: Administration said the next bid issuances (2A and 2B) will be released in April and May, with a third issuance later in the year. The facilities team will provide regular construction and budget updates to the board as the program advances.
