Presentation details safety, infrastructure problems at Lincoln Middle School after $10 million bond sale

A presenter at a Park Ridge CCSD 64 meeting described widespread safety and infrastructure problems at Lincoln Middle School and said the district recently approved the sale of $10,000,000 in bonds to begin targeted renovations. "Protect our buildings, protect our children, preserve our future," the presenter said, framing the district's reworked master facilities plan.

The presenter outlined several specific concerns at Lincoln, a building the presenter said was built in 1928 and is one of the district's oldest schools. He said classroom doors and frames are deteriorating and estimated that redoing all classroom doors and frames across the district would cost "around 2 and a half million dollars." He added that many classroom doors cannot be locked from inside without a key, a shortcoming that could complicate emergency response.

The presentation also flagged mechanical and plumbing problems. The presenter said individual classroom heating and cooling univents are loud, frequently break, and required 43 HVAC service calls in a recent 15-month span that cost $119,516. Replacing those units would require replumbing and a full HVAC system overhaul, he said. On plumbing, the presenter said automatic urinals in several boys' bathrooms flush every 15 minutes around the clock, estimating nearly $90,000 in water costs over 10 years (about $8,790 per year).

Energy upgrades were presented as part of the solution: replacing corridor and other lighting with LEDs and other electrical work, the presenter estimated, would save approximately $185,000 over 10 years. The presenter described Winslow Hall, the building's basement auditorium, as having foundation and water-intrusion issues, and said storage areas and some locker rooms are effectively unusable because of deterioration. He said many lockers "either don't lock or are unusable," and that locker room, gym and weight room are heat-only spaces that would benefit from added ventilation and cooling.

The presenter told the meeting the board approved the sale of $10,000,000 in bonds "to start renovating spaces that will house a self contained autism program and a new program for students who require emotional support." He added that while the district has been budgeting about $2,000,000 annually for construction projects, "the scope of required repairs and improvements across the district is significantly beyond that dollar amount."

A meeting participant who spoke earlier urged the board to pursue master planning, saying, "We should do master planning," and arguing the district should aim for "world class" facilities for teachers and students.

The presentation did not include a detailed timeline for the bond-funded work, specific contract awards, or a vote tally for the bond sale in the transcript. Officials presented the master facilities planning process and condition assessments as the basis for prioritizing projects and next steps.