Park Ridge CCSD 64 outlines multi-million-dollar needs to fix elementary schools' doors, HVAC, alarms and water damage

A presenter for Park Ridge CCSD 64 delivered a recorded overview of a revised master facilities plan, saying district leaders identified multiple urgent safety and infrastructure needs across the district’s five elementary schools: Carpenter, Field, Franklin, Washington and Roosevelt.

The presenter said, "More than 180 doors and frames need to be replaced in our elementary schools, and redoing all the interior doors and frames across the district will cost around 2 and a half million dollars." The presentation framed the work as safety-driven: many interior doors are original to the buildings and have reached the end of their useful life.

Why it matters: the district argued the work is needed to protect students and staff, reduce ongoing maintenance costs and improve building systems that affect health and safety. The presenter said HVAC systems at Field, Franklin, Roosevelt and Washington are "nearing the end of their lifespan," adding the district spends about $80,257 per year on HVAC service calls to elementary buildings and that newer systems would be more energy-efficient and provide better ventilation.

The presentation also identified fire-alarm devices that need replacement in every elementary-school ceiling and described plumbing fixtures that waste water: "The 14 auto flushing valves can be found at Carpenter, Field, Franklin, and Roosevelt, and we pay around $22,268 per year for just the water flushed in those select bathrooms," the presenter said.

The presenters showed physical examples of deferred maintenance: basements at Carpenter and Field with long-running water intrusion near electrical equipment, classroom carpeting separating at seams, ceiling tiles on the verge of falling, antiquated univent heating/cooling units, partially renovated rooms that contrast sharply with adjoining areas, and playgrounds that are deteriorating and not ADA accessible. The presenter said some intervention, English learner and special-education groups are meeting in hallways and other noisy spaces because the district lacks sufficient small-group rooms.

Budget context: the presenter estimated roughly $152,525 per year in "wasted costs," and said the district has been budgeting around $2,000,000 annually for construction projects but that the total scope of repairs and improvements exceeds that allocation. The presentation directed listeners to d64.org/2024proposal for additional information.

Tone and sourcing: another speaker who identified their role as an agency official said, "I feel like my job is to just give you the unvarnished truth about how things are going," framing the presentation as a candid assessment. The transcript records no board motion or vote on the proposals in the provided excerpt.

Next steps: the presenter closed by reiterating priorities to "protect our buildings, protect our children, and preserve our future." The transcript does not specify any formal decisions, deadlines or funding sources beyond the district's existing annual construction budget.