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District outlines facility projects: track resurfacing, curb work, security scanners, lighting upgrades and evacuation equipment
Summary
Staff presented multiple facility projects under consideration, including restriping and possible restracking of Proviso West track, concrete curb and sidewalk replacement at Proviso East, additional security scanner equipment, lighting upgrades and a plan to evaluate evacuation chairs or lifts for stairwells.
District facilities staff gave the board an overview of several capital and safety projects under consideration for Proviso East, Proviso West and other sites.
The update said Proviso West’s track, last resurfaced in 2018, may need restracking and that the district will seek bids and return with a recommendation. Proviso East has curb replacement and sidewalk work planned near building entrances; bids were expected in mid-October per the presentation.
Security: The district said administrators at the high schools want additional security scanners to ease morning bottlenecks. Staff described situations where heavy ridership produced simultaneous large student arrivals that overwhelmed available scanner capacity; upgrades would be put out to bid before any action item.
Accessibility and safety equipment: Staff raised the question of whether to repair or replace two platform-style vertical lifts at Proviso East and add evacuation chairs at stairwells. The presentation said the two vertical-platform lifts at East are not working and that replacing them could be costly; staff estimated that fully restoring mechanical lifts could approach $200,000 for some items. As an alternative, staff described evacuation chairs — portable devices stored at stairwells that allow trained staff to move non-ambulatory people down stairs — and proposed up to 10 chairs at each East and West plus replacements at the Math & Science Academy, but staff said they would consult first responders and legal before deciding and would prepare cost estimates.
Lighting and other work: The presentation also outlined corridor and classroom lighting upgrades at Proviso West modeled on work already done at Proviso East, and noted concrete work and door-area improvements at Proviso East to improve pedestrian safety.
Ending: Staff said many of these items are information items only at this stage; they will seek bids and return with formal recommendations and cost estimates for board approval.
