Construction will start Wednesday for a new elementary school in Sycamore.

The District 427 Board of Education recently approved bids to start building a new elementary school to be located off Plank Road in the very northern part of the school district.

Superintendent Wayne Riesen said the bids are just the starting ground to deal with growth.

“These are just the preliminary bids that will be used for grading, excavation, site utilities and concrete,” Riesen said. “We are growing at a pretty good rate and we are trying to stay ahead of our growth.”

According to Riesen, the bids, worth about $30 million, will be put toward three main goals, which include building a new elementary school, as well as adding on to three existing elementary schools – West, South Prairie and Southeast.

Additions include expanding lunchrooms, gymnasiums, parking lots, offices and lobbies.

According to the Facility Plan brought forth by the Board of Education in 2006, the Board’s main priorities in carrying out this plan include providing programming equity across the district, improving building security, providing a continuation of planning to meet the next challenge and making the most efficient use of the money.

“At this time, this whole phase of the project deals with elementary schools,” said Riesen.

South Prairie Elementary School is the most recently renovated school in the Sycamore district. The improved school opened in August of this year with its nine-room addition and expanded lunchroom. The project took about a year-and-a-half to complete.

“The new school is projected to be open for the fall of 2008, and expected enrollment is to be about 300 students,” said Riesen.

The additions to the existing schools are expected to be completed in fall 2008.

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