Roofs might finally be fixed at Downers Grove schools after the school board voted to approve a $10 million bond sale.
Downers Grove Grade School District 58 Board of Education voted 6-1 Monday, Feb. 8, with member Scott O’Connell as the dissenting vote, to approve the bond sale. The district has been trying to sell the bonds since last year, but O’Connell has threaten litigation, postponing the process.
“I still believe this is not an ethical move for projects that are unspecified with inflated estimates,”
O’Connell said. “I just don’t think it’s right to borrow $10 million for projects that should cost $6 or $7 million. I think there are serious problems with that. I don’t think the end justifies the means.”
O’Connell said he was unsure whether he will follow through with another threat of litigation.
“I just don’t think one board member should be responsible for making sure the law is followed,” O’Connell said.
School Board members wanted to issue $13 million in life safety bonds to repair several school roofs, among other repairs. The district temporarily borrowed about $2 million from cash reserves to pay for work done on roof replacements at O’Neill Middle School and Indian Trail School, and a playground replacement at Whittier School.
Since the roof projects were approved as life-safety work, District 58 must complete the list of projects within five years, according to the state’s life-safety code. The projects slated for next year are roof replacements at Belle Aire, El Sierra and Kingsley schools.
David Phillips, representative from Speer Financial, said there were five bidders for the $10 million in bonds.
“We bid in an open auction format, bidders receive their rank,” Phillips said. “They can improve their bids if they choose or leave their bid. The lowest bid has to remain unchallenged for two minutes.”
Due to the open auction bid, the district was able to save $35,566.
Controller Jim Popernik said the district received excellent results on the sale and said he appreciated the work of staff and the school board.
Work is slated to take place this summer.
Because the work falls under the state’s life-safety designation, District 58 does not need voter approval through a referendum to issue the bonds.
