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CHSD 128 explores facility-condition assessment, life‑safety bond option; Vernon Hills ceiling and lighting bid comes in higher than estimate
Summary
District 128’s Facilities and Finance Committee on March 10 reviewed a proposed upgrade to the district’s capital-planning approach, discussed funding options including newly available life‑safety bond authority, and received updates on disposal-of-equipment listings and a ceiling-and-lighting bid for Vernon Hills High School.
District 128’s Facilities and Finance Committee on March 10 reviewed a proposed upgrade to the district’s capital-planning approach, discussed funding options including newly available life‑safety bond authority, and received updates on disposal-of-equipment listings and a ceiling-and-lighting bid for Vernon Hills High School.
Staff described the district’s current capital plan as a spreadsheet-based system tied to replacement cycles and condition observations and recommended evaluating an upgraded maintenance/work-order platform (SchoolDude is in legacy status) that could integrate component-level capital data. As part of that work, staff recommended considering a third‑party facility condition assessment (FCA) to inventory components and document condition at the component level. “It costs like a hundred thousand dollars to have an FCA done,” Dan said; staff characterized the FCA as a one‑time investment that would populate a new platform and improve prioritization.
The committee also discussed funding options for capital work. Staff explained two broad approaches — pay from cash (fund balance) or borrow (debt) — and summarized a change in Illinois law (Public Act 103-591) that permits issuance of life‑safety bonds without regards to a district’s debt-service-extension base (DSEB) limits in certain circumstances. Staff said life‑safety bonds are limited to code-required or clearly defined life‑safety work (priority A and B items from district surveys) and cannot be used for routine operations or to build new facilities. Staff noted the district can amend previously submitted life‑safety survey lists (such as Vernon Hills’ report) if the board chooses to pursue bond issuance under the statute.
On procurement and summer projects, staff reported the low bid for Vernon Hills hallway ceiling and lighting work came from Ephraim at $223,000, higher than the district estimate of $146,000 based on earlier alternates. Staff said the project recommendation stands despite the difference; two other summer items (a pool scoreboard and Vernon Hills seal coating) remain under evaluation and would not change the staff recommendation for the ceiling-and-lighting contract. The committee asked the architect/consultant to correct a clerical error in its letter: a contingency listed at $100,000 should read $20,000.
Regarding disposal of equipment, the committee requested the public packet include a total dollar figure and the method of disposal (recycle, scrap, donation) and asked staff to add the vendor and totals to the agenda materials before the board acts.
No formal funding vote was recorded in committee; staff will bring bid award and any life‑safety bond proposals to the full board for action after additional analysis and public notices as required.
