Five-Year List of School Improvements OK'd by Board

New asphalt, improved drainage and carpet replacement are among some of the upcoming repairs identified by .

The school board on Monday approved its five-year capital development projects based on foreseeable site improvements and needs. Each of the schools submitted their requested improvements through an online database that also asked why the project was needed and how much of a priority it was, said Joel Murphy, the district’s director of facilities.

Each building was also surveyed to identify deficiencies and concerns, Murphy said.

The condition of the schools was analyzed to see what needed to be addressed to continue to provide a safe and healthy learning environment, safe playgrounds and sports fields and improved technology, Murphy said.

All requests were ranked on an A to F scale, with A being the most essential repairs needed.

The district plans to spend about $1.5 million each year from the construction fund for the maintenance work.

Upcoming work, which includes those that the district gave an A, B, or C ranking, includes repairing the asphalt at Walker’s Grove Elementary School for $125,000 and at Aux Sable Middle School for $110,000 and making sidewalk and drainage repairs at Lincoln Elementary School for $45,000.

At Plainfield South High School, areas that hold water will be regraded to improve the drainage for a cost of $75,000 and gym lights will be replaced for about $54,000.

At Plainfield Central High School, sidewalks and the main entrance will be repaired for a cost of about $40,000 and tuckpointing will be done for about $30,000.

Eagle Pointe Elementary School, whose carpet wasn’t properly installed the first time, will get replacement carpeting at a cost of $60,000.

Upkeep and maintenance work will be done on athletic venues, sports practices fields, driveways, parking lots, playgrounds, walkways and entryways, Murphy said.

Several district schools will also get a little more beautiful thanks to fundraising efforts by student groups and parent-teacher organizations.

The school board on Monday approved two murals to be installed at Liberty Elementary School at a cost of $4,800 paid for through fundraising efforts. The PTO at Ira Jones Middle School also raised $5,130 towards a mural there.

The board approved Plainfield Central High School’s National Honor Society commemorative brick project, which includes landscaping, at a cost of $7,500 to be paid for through fundraising efforts. Shreve Services will donate the labor, according to the district.

At Plainfield East High School, a Reading Garden will be installed using monetary donations from the Key Club and the staff and donated plants. Perennials and shrubs will also be installed at the entrance of Plainfield East by Timber Wolf Landscaping at a cost of about $1,900 and maintained by the school’s special education students as part of their learning program.