School News

Construction in full force at Forest Road

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Desks, tables, chairs and books have all been packed away, as construction has taken over the Forest Road School this summer. District 30 is in the midst of a $1.4 million project to upgrade lights, ceilings, and the heating and ventilation system at its smallest elementary school.

The money is coming from an existing Capital Reserve Fund and the project was approved by voters in May 2013. Similar work was done at Shaw Avenue School last year, and is on tap for Clear Stream Avenue School next year.

At Forest Road, the radiators in all classrooms are being replaced. According to Russell Costa, the director of facilities, the old units are at least 25 years old and in constant need of repair. Frequently, coils leak or a motor breaks down.

Lisa Rutkoske, the assistant superintendent for business, said it no longer makes financial sense to keep patching the system. The new vents will also pull in more fresh air from the outside, she noted.

Along with the heating units, all new shelving will installed along each classroom’s outside wall.

Anyone walking down the hallways at Forest Road can see the steel beams and trusses that hold up the roof, along with wires and pipes, as all ceilings have been removed. As the summer progresses, new drop ceilings will be installed along with energy efficient lighting. The same work is being done in the classrooms, except in the newer sections of the building.

Costa noted that the old fluorescent lights are gone in favor of LED lights. Motion sensors will also be added to ensure that the lights go off if no one is in a room.

The new ceiling tiles will be two-feet by two-feet, instead of the old two-by-four tiles which would begin to sag over time. In the hallways, fire breaks are also being created, to stop a blaze from spreading through the ceiling.

Other work

Several other smaller projects are ongoing in the district this summer. Some classrooms are getting new floor tiles, while others are getting a fresh coat of paint.

New electrical lines are being installed to air condition computer server rooms. A copy room is being created at Clear Stream Avenue School, and the flag pole at Shaw Avenue has been repainted.

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