As metro-east students prepare to head back to school, some will be returning to campuses under construction, while others will be going to new or renovated buildings. Here's the rundown:
Belleville East High School
What's included: A 19,000-square-foot media center, a building addition that houses a new cafeteria with 15,500 square feet of seating, additional classrooms, glass-enclosed hallways and new air-conditioning and heating units, transformers, electrical wiring, lights, window sills, doors and ceiling and floor tiles.
Cost: $33 million
Why it's necessary: To update and make better use of the 40-year-old campus.
Status: Construction of the building addition is expected to be finished by the first day of school; classrooms have been renovated, and crews are preparing for the media center phase of the project.
Desired completion date: Spring 2010 semester
Classes start: Aug. 20
Emge Junior High School
What's included: Asbestos removal from ceiling and floor tiles
Cost: $1.5 million
Why it's necessary: State requirement and potential for damage as the building ages.
Status: Asbestos has been removed from ceiling and floor tiles in classrooms and hallways; new ceiling tiles have been installed and painting, lighting, flooring and wiring has been completed. Plans for more asbestos removal, installations and the replacement of the gymnasium floor is scheduled for next summer.
Desired completion date: Beginning of the 2010-2011 school year
Classes start: Aug. 19
Belle Valley North Elementary
What's included: Demolition of the building's 1987 wing
Cost: $70,000 to $75,000
Why it's necessary: To alleviate the stress on the rest of the building caused by the wing, which was the area most damaged by mine subsidence caused by an underground mine collapse.
Status: Debris is being cleaned up, the roof patched, HVAC system and plumbing reconnected, and walls that will now serve as the building's exterior are being resurfaced.
Desired completion date: By Aug. 18
Classes start: Aug. 18
Althoff Catholic High School
What's included: Window replacements, refacing the building's exterior, landscaping, insulation, air-conditioning installation and technology updates.
Cost: $2.6 million
Why it's necessary: To make the 45-year-old building more energy efficient and update technology at the school.
Status: All air-conditioning units and windows have been installed, refacing work on the building's exterior is being completed, and preparations are underway to raise funds for the technology updates and landscaping.
Desired completion date: Dependent on fundraising
Classes start: Aug. 19
Pontiac Junior High
What's included: Renovations to kitchen and cafeteria space, and a 10,000-square-foot expansion that will include a new science lab, more classrooms, a media center and more space to move sixth-grade students from the elementary building to the junior high building.
Cost: $1.7 million
Why it's necessary: To accommodate enrollment increases and add theater, foreign language and vocational courses to the curriculum.
Status: Carpeting is being installed and final touch ups are underway.
Desired completion date: Aug. 10
Classes start: Aug. 26
O'Fallon Township High School-Millburn Campus
What's included: A new building to house the O'Fallon High School District 203 freshmen that includes conveniently located classrooms for better traffic, an auditorium that seats more than 700 and several energy efficient features.
Cost: $38 million
Why it's necessary: To accommodate the growth in enrollment in the district and alleviate crowding at its main campus.
Status: Fixing shelving in the media center and making final touch-ups.
Desired completion date: Completed
Classes start: Wednesday
Mascoutah High School
What's included: A new 221,000-square-foot high school building that will include two gymnasiums, an auditorium and enough classroom space to accommodate more than 1,000 students.
Cost: $55 million (bond referendum)
Why it's necessary: Increasing enrollment figures, which are projected to reach 1,200 by 2012.
Status: Groundwork to prepare for the construction of the building's foundation and athletic fields has begun, while the district plans to accept bids for the construction until Aug. 25. Officials anticipate construction could begin in early to mid-September.
Desired completion date: Beginning of the 2011-2012 school year
Classes start: Aug. 20
East St. Louis Career and Technical Academy
What's included: An addition to the East St. Louis Senior High building that will house a vocational high school for East St. Louis School District 189 students.
Cost: $15 million
Why it's necessary: To address students' interest in receiving vocational training by offering courses such as business education, welding, culinary arts, horticulture and cosmetology.
Status: Recently approved a bid, allowing construction to start in the fall.
Desired completion date: Late 2010 to early 2011
Classes start: Aug. 17
Edwardsville High School
What's included: A new 23,000-square-foot wrestling building
Cost: $3.5 million
Why it's necessary: To support wrestling programs at the school and in the Edwardsville community.
Status: Construction is complete and crews are putting mats down and installing bleachers. A dedication ceremony has been scheduled for 2 p.m. Aug. 23
Desired completion date: Aug. 17
Classes start: Aug. 18
Waterloo High School
What's included: A new high school building with a 462-seat auditorium, a cafeteria to seat 600, a fitness center, a central courtyard, an athletic complex and computer labs.
Cost: $35 million (bond referendum)
Why it's necessary: To accommodate growth
Status: Complete and open for public viewing from 3-5 p.m. Aug. 16, following a 2 p.m. dedication ceremony, located at 505 E. Bulldog Blvd.
Desired completion date: Completed
Classes start: Aug. 18
Other projects
* In Wolf Branch School District 113, portions of Huntwood Road, on which the district's elementary and middle schools are located, will be closed because of construction from Old Caseyville Road to Illinois 159. Parents have been alerted of the construction and traffic adjustments through the district's phone system, and the district will notify parents again before the start of school.
* In Belle Valley School District 119, groundwork has begun at the site of the district's future new school building, a $39.5 million project approved by voters in April. The district is preparing to begin issuing bonds and planning a groundbreaking ceremony.
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