RISD41 Updates

Longfellow Liberal Arts Grand Opening

August 4th, 2009 by Holly

Longfellow Liberal Arts held a Grand Opening Wednesday, July 29. The first Building Excellence project to celebrate the completion of construction, the project included adding four classrooms, an administrative center, a library/media center, a cafeteria/lunchroom, restrooms, a security system, elevator and relocating the main entrance to the school. Principal Dave Knuckey, along with members of the Board of Education, Illinois Quad City Chamber, Augustana College and the Mayor of Rock Island marked the occasion by holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony before the school opened for a tour.

: New classroom.

: Crowd tours the school.

: Ribbon cutting.

: Longfellow Liberal Arts new entrance, south east side of school.

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Building Excellence Continues into the New School Year

July 29th, 2009 by Holly

Construction Manager Ben Hott updated the Board of Education on Building Excellence construction at the first meeting of the new school year.

Longfellow Liberal Arts will have a Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on July 29 at 4:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend. Eugene Field is adding final touches and will be ready for a Grand Opening in the next couple of weeks.

Eugene Field Media Center front desk.

Eugene Field Cafeteria Entrance

Eugene Field Cafeteria

The New Academy, (currently located at the Primary Academy) new classroom addition has the exterior shell complete and windows are being installed. The administration area is near completion, and the media center and cafeteria are in beginning phases.

New Academy classroom addition.

Academy new hallway.

Academy new cafeteria.

At the Rock Island Center for Math & Science, classroom addition walls are constructed and almost enclosed. Gymnasium walls are also up. Much progress has been made during the month of July.

Center for Math & Science classroom addition.

Center for Math & Science Classroom interior view.

Center for Math & Science Gymnasium.

Thomas Jefferson Elementary repurposed their kitchen into a cafeteria and expanded the north wall off of the gymnasium to accomodate the new eating area. Tiles are in the ceiling and the flooring will be going in this week. Most of the painting is complete. Project has been delayed slightly and will be complete early in the school year.

Thomas Jefferson cafeteria interior wall.

Thomas Jefferson cafeteria / north gym wall.

Thomas Jefferson cafeteria exterior.

Interior work has been the focus this summer at Ridgewood Elementary. The media center and cafeteria will be ready mid-August.

Ridgewood Cafeteria.

Ridgewood exterior construction.

Posted in Academy, Building Excellence, Eugene Field, Longfellow, New School, RI Center for Math & Science, Ridgewood, Thomas Jefferson | No Comments »

July Construction Update

July 23rd, 2009 by Holly

Many schools held registration this week in makeshift rooms amidst the ongoing construction projects of the Building Excellence plan. Despite delays due seasonal weather conditions, many of the projects have been on a productive time line over the summer. Two schools, Eugene Field and Longfellow Liberal Arts, are putting the finishing touches on their projects before the start of school on August 3. Longfellow has scheduled a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, July 29 at 4:30 p.m.

Frances Willard Elementary front west parking lot is finished and sod has been placed. Walls for the new cafeteria and additional classroom space are now being constructed. The reconfigured front entrance interior has been separated to add a secure space next to the administration area and the nurses office has been expanded and relocated. The dry wall is just about complete.

Frances Willard Entrance & New Parking Lot

Frances Willard Cafeteria and Classroom Addition.

Frances Willard New Entrance area.

The Denkmann Elementary new cafeteria walls are constructed and work has started on the front entrance and small instruction space.

Denkmann New Cafeteria Exterior (west side).

Denkmann Exterior Cafeteria (north side view).

Denkmann Elementary Interior Entrance Area.

Tags: cafeteria, Denkmann, Frances Willard, new entrance, parking lot
Posted in Denkmann, Frances Willard | No Comments »

Building Excellence Update June 2009

June 11th, 2009 by Holly

At the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, June 9, Associate Superintendent Mike Oberhaus updated the board on the projects that have exceeded their budgets due to various construction issues. Thus far, the school district has paid out $7.6 million of the $28 million Building Excellence budget.

Longfellow Liberal Arts school is about $19,000 over budget due to heavy asbestos removal and the discovery of wooden floors under what was thought to be a concrete base. The work to level the floor and pour additional concrete created additional costs.

The Rock Island Center for Math and Science incurred $300,000 in additional costs due to poor soil situation and the discovery of an old foundation before the Villa de Chantal was constructed. The construction was delayed for a few weeks and there were 16-18 trucks removing dirt and bringing in rock every day to create a firm foundation for the building. Since that time, masonry has started and work is continuing at a steady pace.

The Academy also had soil issues and the contractor needed to over-excavate to ensure a proper foundation. The cost for that project is about $18,000 over the contingency amount already budgeted.

The Eugene Field project will probably come in under budget, and is slated to have a Grand Opening to students and parents at it’s “Unpack Your Backpack” night on Thursday, July 30.

Longfellow entrance, southeast side.

Longfellow classroom addition
Longfellow east classroom addition.

Rock Island Center MS
Rock Island Center for Math & Science

Center wall
Rock Island Center for Math & Science.

Frances Willard drive in entrance, west side.

Ridgewood front
Front entrance of Ridgewood school.

Ridgewood entrance
Ridgewood school front entrance construction.

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Rock Island Center for Math & Science Moving Forward

May 27th, 2009 by Holly

Associate Superintendent Mike Oberhaus updated the Board of Education on the progress at the Rock Island Center for Math & Science at the May 26 meeting.

After a two month delay due to the discovery of a previous structure/foundation that wasn’t recorded with the old Villa de Chantal site plans, along with several days of inclement weather conditions, Mr. Oberhaus told the board that the school will be finished in time for its projected opening of April 30, 2010.

Foundation has been poured in the classroom addition as well as the Media Center and administrative office area. The south parking lot area has been graded and is ready for further construction.

RI Center for Math & Science Classroom 1
Classroom section foundation.

RI Center for Math & Science RI Center for Math & Science Media Ctr
Media Center foundation.

RI Center for Math & Science foundation
Sections of old foundation discovered beneath the former Villa structure.

Posted in RI Center for Math & Science | No Comments »

Frances Willard and Ridgewood Break Ground!

May 20th, 2009 by Holly

Rock Island School District officials, The Regional Superintendent of Rock Island County Joe Vermiere, the Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce and Mayor Dennis Pauley of Rock Island celebrated with the Rock Island-Milan School District at two Building Excellence groundbreakings on Thursday, May 14.

Ridgewood Elementary, 9607 14th Street West, broke ground on their project which will encompass six classrooms, a new cafeteria, and additional storage space. Frances Willard Elementary, 2503 9th Street, will receive two classrooms, restrooms, new cafeteria, small instruction space, office remodel, and storage.

Ridgewood Groundbreaking Ridgewood groundbreaking crowd

Pictured above: students gathered in front of Ridgewood to celebrate the groundbreaking.

Frances Willard Groundbreaking Frances Willard front lawn

Frances Willard students and teachers break ground amidst construction equipment.

Posted in Frances Willard, Ridgewood | No Comments »

Board of Education Construction Tour

May 12th, 2009 by Holly

The Board of Education toured the Tier One projects of the Building Excellence construction plan before the regular meeting on Tuesday, May 12.

Academy building

At the new Academy addition pictured above (located at the current Primary Academy 930 14th Street) construction manager Ben Hott showed board members the walls of the new addition and part of the new entryway/corridor located on the southwest side of the building. The masonry has been started. The interior work is about halfway complete on the new cafeteria area. The current location of the central hall area will be converted into a music room.

New School site

The building foundation for the new Rock Island Center for Math & Science has started (pictured above). Work will continue throughout the summer and the fall. Anticipated completion date is April 2010.

Longfellow entrance

The Longfellow school new entrance (above) at the southeast portion of the building is taking shape. The media center and administration center are housed in this part of the addition.

Principal Dave

Longfellow Principal Dave Knuckey stands in his soon-to-be office.

New media center

Board members tour the new Longfellow media center. The classroom addition on the east side of the building is almost complete. The new cafeteria and serving area will be completed after the school year concludes on June 5. The entire project will be finished mid-July.

Eugene Field cafeteria

The new cafeteria at Eugene Field (above) and classroom addition exteriors are almost complete. Interior work has started so the additions can be integrated into the existing building. Remodeling to the administration area and front entrance will take place over the summer. Completion date is scheduled for late July.

Eugene Field media center exterior

Eugene Field media center exterior.

Posted in Academy, Eugene Field, Longfellow, RI Center for Math & Science | No Comments »

April 2009 Building Excellence Update

April 30th, 2009 by Holly

The Longfellow School administration and media center is being worked on, the east-side classroom addition windows are installed and the new cafeteria is nearing the final stages. Completion date is targeted for August 3. Masonry work has started at the Academy and the new entry area and corridor are being constructed.

Eugene Field has windows installed and roof in place on the south addition, and work has started on the cafeteria and media center interior. The windows use passive solar energy to retain heat in the building and lower energy costs. There is also more use of natural light throughout the new additions. Targeted completion date is July 30.

Thomas Jefferson and Denkmann construction began immediately after the groundbreakings. Those projects will be ready by the beginning of the school year.

The board awarded a contract for construction of the building addition at Ridgewood Elementary to Precision Builders, Inc. of LeClaire, Iowa. The $1,685,000 addition came in under budget. A groundbreaking will be taking place at Ridgewood in the next couple of weeks, as well as Frances Willard.

Projects in the design phase include Earl Hanson, Edison Jr. High, Washington Jr. High and the Rock Island High School Cafeteria remodel.

Associate Superintendent Mike Oberhaus gave an overview of the Building Excellence financial picture to date. After a sketchy beginning due to hyperinflation of construction costs, the district has regained control of the financing. The district has contracted out $25.2 million thus far and originally anticipated using $11 million of the reserves, but after revisiting Thomas Jefferson and Ridgewood splitting the projects into two phases, the district has currently used $7.8 million of the reserves. The district will need to look at the development and implementation of a food production facility at the high school to accommodate the closing of the Intermediate Academy food production facility. Mr. Oberhaus is working on options to fund the project and will update the board at a future meeting.

Longfellow entrance and media center, south east side.

Longfellow classroom addition, east side.

Eugene Field south classroom addition exterior.

Eugene Field south classroom addition interior.

Eugene Field cafeteria interior.

Eugene Field media center interior.

Academy addition south west side.

Academy new entrance.

Tags: construction update
Posted in Building Excellence | No Comments »

March 2009 Building Excellence Construction Update

March 12th, 2009 by Holly

Ben Hott, Construction Project Manager for the school district, updated the Board of Education on Building Excellence progress at the March 10 meeting.

The Longfellow project has all exterior brick and masonry completed for the classroom addition. The roof is being put on this week and concrete flooring poured. The design of the new brickwork reflects the overall historical design of the building, thus retaining the original look and feel of Longfellow. Cafeteria and serving area has been dry walled and painted, ready for flooring. Media and administration areas are next. The project will be done in August 2009.
Eugene Field is the furthest along with new cafeteria, media center and classroom areas constructed. The cafeteria addition brickwork is completed and glass block windows are being installed. The small instructional spaces are dry walled and need flooring. The project will be done in August 2009.
The Academy construction has been held up due to unanticipated challenges with the soil structure. A proper base has been built, and the addition has a 6” rock base. Temporary walls have been set up to allow workers to work on parts of the interior. Anticipated completion is December 2009.
Most of the work has been underground utilities, electrical, sanitary sewer and storm sewer at the Rock Island Center for Math & Science. Foundations were slated to go in this week, however with rain it has been delayed. Additional grading work was required to the site that was not anticipated. The Center is slated for opening in April 2010.

Board members also approved bids for Thomas Jefferson, Frances Willard and Denkmann construction. An alternate bid for Thomas Jefferson was reviewed, and is good for 45 days with the potential of being funded with the approval of the 1% Sales Tax measure on the April 7 ballot. Ridgewood bids will come in sometime next week. Associate Superintendent Mike Oberhaus reviewed the status of the financing for the Building Excellence plan and currently estimates the use of reserves at $9 million.