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Shorewood board approves long-term capital plan and welcomes new buildings director
Summary
The board approved an updated long-term capital-improvement plan (FY27–36), heard a progress report on 2025–26 projects and 2026–27 proposals (roofs, HVAC, skylights, pool boilers, track work), and introduced Samantha Bowers as the district's new director of buildings and grounds.
The Shorewood School District board on April 14 approved an updated long-term capital-improvement plan covering fiscal years 2027–36 and received a district facilities report that included completed 2025–26 projects and planned 2026–27 work.
Director of Business Services Heather Heveland (speaking at the meeting) and Samantha Bowers, the district's new director of buildings and grounds, reviewed recent and upcoming projects. Completed work in 2025–26 included sections of roof replacement on the Performing Arts Building, replacement of an air handling unit at the intermediate school, and completion of the final phase of an SIS elevator controller upgrade. Projects still in progress include further Atwater roof replacement, VHE roof work and replacement of eight cracked skylights above the VHE pool, and replacement of worn exterior staircases on the SHS and Lake Bluff campuses.
Looking toward 2026–27, staff proposed replacing pool boilers and upgrading pool lighting during a scheduled VHE pool shutdown, targeted tuckpointing and concrete repairs districtwide, select window repairs at the high school campus, athletic-field maintenance and tennis-court repairs, and IT camera-server and UPS battery replacements. The report grouped projects into essential infrastructure (Fund 41), quality maintenance (Fund 46), and community-use facilities (Fund 80), and outlined projected 2026–27 costs of roughly $1.3 million for essential infrastructure and just under $300,000 for quality maintenance.
The board received a vehicle-and-fleet update that includes plans to replace aging student-transportation vans in a staggered schedule and to purchase a wheelchair-accessible vehicle for special-education transport. Staff said the district's freightliner food-service truck was purchased with food-service funds and would reduce other vehicle-use costs.
After discussion, a motion to approve the updated long-term capital plan carried by voice vote. No roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript; board members voted "aye" and the chair stated the motion carried. The board also approved the superintendent's consent agenda containing some capital contracts to allow work to proceed this summer.
Samantha Bowers was introduced as the district's new buildings-and-grounds director; board members noted her long service to Shorewood and local ties. Staff said they aim to post slide decks and project details online for public review.
Next steps: staff will post the capital slide deck and the updated ten-year plan online and return to the board with budget adjustments or contract language as needed for specific projects.
