LTHS Board Considers Options For Central Campus Infrastructure

LOCKPORT, IL — Six months after a ceiling collapse led to the school closing, the Lockport Township High School Board of Education continues to consider how to address the infrastructure needs at Central Campus. At its Monday meeting, the Board approved a motion to direct the administration to start considering approaches like issuing bonds, using cash reserves and investigating alternative revenue sources like a community solar program.

The Board also approved a $3.4 million bid at its Monday meeting for phase 2 of the ceiling replacement project. The District expects that project to be finished over the summer, with the school reopening to students for the new school year in August.

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However, Central Campus has additional infrastructure needs like roof replacement, electrical system update, domestic water supply improvements, new windows, new HVAC systems, and Americans with Disabilities Act improvements, according to the District.

“The longer we wait on this, essentially, I don’t think that costs are going to go down, they’re only going to go up,” Board Member Veronica Tylka-Shaw said.

The Board’s approval does not allow the District to issue bonds, but to look into next steps of that process.

The Board’s action allows the administration to begin looking into several potential approaches for Central Campus, including issuing $26.2 million in life/safety or working cash bonds; using cash reserves of $10 to $12 million; leveraging an annual allocation from the capital improvements fund; and working with the Village of Homer Glen to investigate leasing the Cedar Road property for community solar.

The Board’s action comes after an $85 million referendum failed in March. After the failure, the Board said it would consider alternative courses of action to renovate the 115-year-old Central Campus.