Minooka CHSD 111 board approves site improvements, security and equipment purchases

The Minooka Community High School District 111 Board of Education on Monday approved a set of site improvement projects and equipment purchases that together will advance work at South and Central campuses and outfit the new CTE/fieldhouse additions.

Board members voted to move forward with site improvement projects that include turf and repair work on baseball and softball facilities, a $170,929 contract with Johnson Flooring to replace worn tile and stair treads at South and Central campuses and multiple technology and security purchases. The board approved spending of $102,000 for Low Voltage Solutions camera expansion, approximately $60,380 for Arlock security system extensions, $46,470 for door access control panels from ITR and $17,985 to purchase 11 Epson BrightLink projectors with mounts for the CTE/fieldhouse.

Administrators said some of the work grew from remaining capacity in the district’s larger construction budget for the fieldhouse and CTE projects and from life‑safety planning that identified HVAC, roofing and door access needs. "We had some room left with what was projected to be the budget of the $83 million CTE and fieldhouse project, so we looked at what else could be done now," an administrator said during the meeting.

Trustee Tim (first name used in the transcript) urged caution about approving projects without completing a full facilities prioritization. "My biggest concern is that we did a five‑year strategy and we haven't completed the prioritization," he said, asking why the board should move forward before a full facility analysis. Administrators responded that the district maintains health‑life‑safety plans and roofing/asset lifecycles that guide urgent work, and that some items (softball repairs, baseball turf) address longstanding safety and usability issues.

Board members motioned and approved each purchase by roll call. For example, the Johnson Flooring tile contract — presented with an allowance of about $35,000 for unforeseen floor remediation — was approved as presented. Several quotes for industrial‑tech equipment were also approved, including a $31,624.50 purchase from Granger and a small Grizzly purchase for $413.75. Jones & Bartlett fire science textbooks totaling $5,521.95 were approved for the fire science program.

Administrators said the district will continue to monitor long‑term planning and noted that the district still has physical capacity for more students in the near term. The board also approved a set of technology purchases, including Fortinet access points for $51,717, and a camera and access control package intended to track access at the new fieldhouse and CTE wing.

The board approved the package of site improvements and purchases by roll call vote; motions passed on each listed item. The board also approved routine overnight field trip requests for varsity football (July 12–15) and a softball tournament in Rosemont.

The board’s approvals allow work and procurement to proceed; several projects include contingencies and allowances for final remediation or change orders. The district said some awards will be formally recommended at the next meeting (May) to allow contractors to secure scheduling without obligating the board to an immediate contract before final action.