Site work and new construction of an educational facility in Cahokia, Illinois. Completed plans call for the construction of a educational facility; and for site work for a educational facility.

https://www.macon.com/news/local/article288436941.html Cahokia 187 is getting a new high school. Here’s the timeline, design & financing BY KELLY SMITS UPDATED MAY 16, 2024 10:41 AM An aerial rendering of the new Cahokia High School campus at 815 Camp Jackson Road/Illinois 157. FGM Architects Cahokia High School was built in 1951 with a boiler system from a World War II submarine. The building also lacks a modern heating, ventilation and air conditioning system and has about $40 million in needed repairs, District 187 officials say. Now, with the help of an alternative financing mechanism that doesn’t require a bond referendum and with land the city has donated, Cahokia Community Unit School District 187 is forging ahead with a new high school. “The approval of the construction of the new Cahokia High School and enhancements to our elementary and middle school buildings marks a significant milestone for our district,” Superintendent Curtis McCall Jr. said at a public meeting Tuesday evening in the current high school’s gym. “We may be one of the last school districts in this metro-east area to construct a new high school,” he said. “I’m telling you today that it’s time.” Cahokia District 187 Superintendent Curtis McCall Jr. speaks during a public meeting about plans for constructing a new Cahokia High School in the current high school’s gym in Cahokia Heights, Ill., on May 8, 2024. A meeting was also held on May 7. Joshua Carter Belleville News-Democrat The new 180,000-square-foot school will be located at 815 Camp Jackson Road/Illinois 157, southeast of the former Parks Air College and current Cahokia Heights Fitness and Community Center. The school will accommodate 1,100 students with the potential for future expansion to serve 1,500 students. The City of Cahokia Heights has donated 48 acres to the school district for the building. “We’re moving in the right direction,” Mayor Curtis McCall Sr. said. “This is a very, very proud moment in our city. This is a very, very overdue moment in the school district.” Cahokia 187 has tapped veteran educator and longtime NCAA basketball referee Ed Hightower to help with the planning and construction of the new high school. Hightower, who has a doctorate in education administration from St. Louis University, is serving in a similar role for Venice 3, which recently broke ground on its new elementary school. “I understand what it means to build a new high school,” he said, adding that he built a high school, middle school and several elementary schools during his 19-year tenure as superintendent in Edwardsville 7. GOALS, TIMELINE & DESIGN Hightower explained that the new high school is part of a larger revitalization plan for the district. The goals include: Addressing the physical safety vulnerabilities at the district’s elementary and middle schools. Constructing a high school that provides students access to the same amenities afforded to other students in the metro-east. Developing financial strategies to fund the infrastructural needs. He also provided an overview of what the district has done in recent months to “fast-track” the construction of the high school, which will be complete by June 30, 2026, he said. Recent developments include working with: FGM Architects to design and construct the new high school as well as identify safety and enhancements at the elementary and middle schools. TWM Engineering to subdivide more than 80 acres into legal descriptions and transfer the deed for 48 acres to the school district. SCI Engineering to conduct an environmental study and cultural resource report on that acreage as well as preliminary borings on the 48 acres to ensure the property was suitable for a new school. Officials have also proposed a five-lane road extending from Illinois 157 to Falling Springs Road to alleviate traffic congestion as well as an underground tunnel to divert traffic from Illinois 157, Hightower said. Local legislators are working to secure funding for that infrastructure. The new building will have classrooms, administrative and student support offices, performing arts classrooms and a theater, career and technical education facilities, a library media center, a cafeteria and kitchen, competition and auxiliary gyms, athletic facilities like lockers rooms, weight rooms, wrestling rooms and coach offices, a storm shelter, emergency generator and parking for about 1,000 vehicles. Athletic facilities around the building will include a football stadium, soccer field, all-weather track, baseball and softball fields, tennis courts and a shared building for ticket sales, concessions, restrooms, locker rooms, and storage and maintenance. Ed Hightower shows a blueprint for the new Cahokia High School during a public meeting at the current high school in Cahokia Heights, Ill., on May 8, 2024. Joshua Carter Belleville News-Democrat The design of the new building is inspired by both the Indigenous history of Cahokia and the more recent history of Alorton, Cahokia and Centreville coming together to form Cahokia Heights, Aaron Keistler of FGM Architects said. The floor plan will promote the interaction of various departments that were previously isolated, and the design goal is to create a sense of belonging for students, teachers and staff. During Tuesday’s meeting, one member of the public asked about what will happen with the current high school. Hightower said that it will eventually be demolished, but the district will retain and improve the current athletic facilities for the other schools in Cahokia 187 to use. Another community member asked about security at the new high school. Keistler said the first point of contact visitors will have with administration and the security guard will be in a secure vestibule with locked doors. At that point, the security guard will be able to do a first level threat assessment before granting access to the building. If there is ever an active shooter situation, he added, administration will have access to technology allowing them to remotely close and lock the corridors throughout the school until first responders and police arrive. The security and camera systems will also be connected to the police department. As for the construction timeline, the bid process will begin May 21 with a mandatory initial pre-bid meeting, Hightower said. On Oct. 2, the board of education will select the contractor. The construction will then be completed by the end of June 2026. Furniture installation, testing and commission will then take place in July before the district moves in at the beginning of August. The scene of a future high school at 815 Camp Jackson Road in Cahokia Heights, Ill., on May 9, 2024. Joshua Carter Belleville News-Democrat FINANCING THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL Cahokia District 187 has a financial strategy for building the high school that shouldn’t require raising local property taxes, officials say. Central to that strategy is a financing mechanism known as “general obligation lease certificates.” In March, the district issued $72.58 million in the certificates to pay for building and equipping the school after the board of education adopted the required resolution at its February board meeting. Like bonds, lease certificates are a form of long-term debt that school districts can issue to finance capital projects. One of the key differences between bonds and lease certificates is how they’re repaid. School districts repay the principal plus interest of bonds over time from the debt service fund, one of the nine funds Illinois school district budgets can have. Districts then levy local property taxes for the debt service fund to pay back the bonds. Lease certificates, however, can be paid back from a district’s operating funds. District 187 will pay back the lease certificates with corporate personal property replacement tax funds it gets annually from the state and interest earnings for the first two years of repayment, Assistant Superintendent Arnett Harvey told the BND. Starting with the third year, the district will continue paying off the certificates annually with revenue it will get from two retiring tax increment financing districts within the school district’s boundaries. In March, the district also issued $25 million in general obligation school bonds for its working cash fund and $24.905 million in taxable general obligation school bonds. The working cash fund in school district budgets acts like a savings account. At its February meeting, the board of education abated the district’s working cash fund to its other operating funds. Those funds will be used to make up the difference between the $90 million initial estimate for the new high school and the $72.58 million the district has issued in lease certificates, Harvey said. He said the district issued the $25 million in new bonds to re-establish the working cash fund for general operating needs that come up. He said the $24.905 million in bonds are being used to restructure the district’s current debt — similar to refinancing a house — in such a way that there won’t be an increase in the tax levy until 2027, which will be after the two TIF agreements expire. Illinois law allows cities to create TIF districts with special funds to encourage economic development, often in blighted or declining areas. As property values rise, all or a portion of additional tax revenue generated goes into the funds instead of schools and other local taxing districts until a TIF district expires. According to 2023 county tax reports, over one-third of Cahokia District 187’s total equalized assessed value is unavailable to the district because of numerous TIF agreements. The district’s tax extension with the total EAV is about $16 million, Harvey said, but the district only receives about $10 million of that and the other $6 million goes to the TIF districts. The two expiring districts have been around for decades and were extended twice, he said. “Those TIF agreements have really … handcuffed us for a long time,” he said. With two of the agreements set to expire in 2026, the district will be able use the resulting surge in revenue to pay off the lease certificates, therefore preventing an increase in the tax levy. For the first two years of repayment of the certificates prior to the TIF expirations, District 187 will use its corporate personal property replacement tax funds that come from the state annually as well as interest earnings that come to the district, Harvey said. The district receives an average of $4 million annually for the corporate personal property replacement tax, he said. The district previously was generating about $2 million annually in interest, but with interest rates rebounding recently and the issuance of the lease certificates and bonds, the district will generate between $5-6.5 million over the next two years of additional interest earnings. While bonds and lease certificates are always “backed up by the potential of a tax levy,” the way the district has structured them means they shouldn’t affect residents’ tax bills at all, Harvey said. “It’s one of the few times that I’ve been in Cahokia that all things have fallen in place and in favor positively for the school district,” he added, referencing the lease certificates, forthcoming TIF expirations and recent budget surpluses the district has accrued in large part because of the unprecedented funding schools got from the federal government during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cahokia 187 has been looking for funding to build a new high school and other facility improvements since he joined the district in 1994, Harvey said. The district has been on the Illinois State Board of Education and Capital Development Board’s list of pending applications for school construction grants since 2004, he said. That grant would have given the district 75 cents on the dollar for a new high school, but it never came to fruition because of limited state funding for the program. “Back then, we still would have had to have had a slight tax increase to the community” because the district didn’t have the budget surpluses and lease certificate option it has now and the TIF agreements had just been renewed, Harvey said. “So those things all have fallen into place now at the right time.” An exterior rendering of the new Cahokia High School at 815 Camp Jackson Road. FGM Architects This story was originally published May 11, 2024, 7:00 AM. Read more at: https://www.macon.com/news/local/article288436941.html#storylink=cpy ________________________________________________ https://www.bnd.com/news/local/article288436941.html Cahokia 187 is getting a new high school. Here’s the timeline, design & financing Cahokia High School was built in 1951 with a boiler system from a World War II submarine. The building also lacks a modern heating, ventilation and air conditioning system and has about $40 million in needed repairs, District 187 officials say. Now, with the help of an alternative financing mechanism that doesn’t require a bond referendum and with land the city has donated, Cahokia Community Unit School District 187 is forging ahead with a new high school. “The approval of the construction of the new Cahokia High School and enhancements to our elementary and middle school buildings marks a significant milestone for our district,” Superintendent Curtis McCall Jr. said at a public meeting Tuesday evening in the current high school’s gym. “We may be one of the last school districts in this metro-east area to construct a new high school,” he said. “I’m telling you today that it’s time.” The new 180,000-square-foot school will be located at 815 Camp Jackson Road/Illinois 157, southeast of the former Parks Air College and current Cahokia Heights Fitness and Community Center. The school will accommodate 1,100 students with the potential for future expansion to serve 1,500 students. The City of Cahokia Heights has donated 48 acres to the school district for the building. We’re moving in the right direction,” Mayor Curtis McCall Sr. said. “This is a very, very proud moment in our city. This is a very, very overdue moment in the school district.” Cahokia 187 has tapped veteran educator and longtime NCAA basketball referee Ed Hightower to help with the planning and construction of the new high school. Hightower, who has a doctorate in education administration from St. Louis University, is serving in a similar role for Venice 3, which recently broke ground on its new elementary school. “I understand what it means to build a new high school,” he said, adding that he built a high school, middle school and several elementary schools during his 19-year tenure as superintendent in Edwardsville 7. GOALS, TIMELINE & DESIGN Hightower explained that the new high school is part of a larger revitalization plan for the district. The goals include: Addressing the physical safety vulnerabilities at the district’s elementary and middle schools. Constructing a high school that provides students access to the same amenities afforded to other students in the metro-east. Developing financial strategies to fund the infrastructural needs. He also provided an overview of what the district has done in recent months to “fast-track” the construction of the high school, which will be complete by June 30, 2026, he said. Recent developments include working with: FGM Architects to design and construct the new high school as well as identify safety and enhancements at the elementary and middle schools. TWM Engineering to subdivide more than 80 acres into legal descriptions and transfer the deed for 48 acres to the school district. SCI Engineering to conduct an environmental study and cultural resource report on that acreage as well as preliminary borings on the 48 acres to ensure the property was suitable for a new school. Officials have also proposed a five-lane road extending from Illinois 157 to Falling Springs Road to alleviate traffic congestion as well as an underground tunnel to divert traffic from Illinois 157, Hightower said. Local legislators are working to secure funding for that infrastructure. The new building will have classrooms, administrative and student support offices, performing arts classrooms and a theater, career and technical education facilities, a library media center, a cafeteria and kitchen, competition and auxiliary gyms, athletic facilities like lockers rooms, weight rooms, wrestling rooms and coach offices, a storm shelter, emergency generator and parking for about 1,000 vehicles. Athletic facilities around the building will include a football stadium, soccer field, all-weather track, baseball and softball fields, tennis courts and a shared building for ticket sales, concessions, restrooms, locker rooms, and storage and maintenance. The design of the new building is inspired by both the Indigenous history of Cahokia and the more recent history of Alorton, Cahokia and Centreville coming together to form Cahokia Heights, Aaron Keistler of FGM Architects said. The floor plan will promote the interaction of various departments that were previously isolated, and the design goal is to create a sense of belonging for students, teachers and staff. During Tuesday’s meeting, one member of the public asked about what will happen with the current high school. Hightower said that it will eventually be demolished, but the district will retain and improve the current athletic facilities for the other schools in Cahokia 187 to use. Another community member asked about security at the new high school. Keistler said the first point of contact visitors will have with administration and the security guard will be in a secure vestibule with locked doors. At that point, the security guard will be able to do a first level threat assessment before granting access to the building. If there is ever an active shooter situation, he added, administration will have access to technology allowing them to remotely close and lock the corridors throughout the school until first responders and police arrive. The security and camera systems will also be connected to the police department. As for the construction timeline, the bid process will begin May 21 with a mandatory initial pre-bid meeting, Hightower said. On Oct. 2, the board of education will select the contractor. The construction will then be completed by the end of June 2026. Furniture installation, testing and commission will then take place in July before the district moves in at the beginning of August. Read more at: https://www.bnd.com/news/local/article288436941.html#storylink=cpy ________________________________________________________ New High School Project To learn about the Project's general design, construction parameters, and additional requirements. Initial Instructions and Information for Bidders" may be obtained by sending an email request to: Curtis McCall, Jr., Superintendent mccallcl@cusd187.org, Ruth Schreckenberg at schreckrm@cusd187.org, and Dr. Ed Hightower at drehightower@att.net. Evaluation of Bids and Potential Contractor Selection by Board of Education on: September 27 October 1, 2024. (K) Contractor Selection by Board of Education and contract date: October 2, 2024. (L) Substantial Completion Date of: June 08, 2026. (M) Final Construction Completion Date of: June 26, 2026. (N) Furniture Installation, Testing, and Commissioning Completion Date of: July 31, 2026. (O) Owner move-in period: August 3, 2026 August 14, 2026 The District reserves the right to modify and/or withdraw this Request at its discretion. On or before May 28, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. any Interested Party must formally register and place its name on the District's "Interested Party Registry" by sending an email to: Curtis McCall, Jr., Superintendent mccallcl@cusd187.org, Ruth Schreckenberg at schreckrm@cusd187.org, and Dr. Ed Hightower at drehightower@att.net Cahokia Unit School District No. 187 (“District”) is commencing the selection process, in compliance with the provisions of Illinois School Code Section 10-20.21 (105 ILCS 5/10-20.21), to select the lowest responsible and responsive construction contractor to serve as its General Contractor to build the district’s "New High School Project" ("Project") at 815 Camp Jackson Rd, Cahokia Heights, IL 62206. The Project is currently expected to involve the construction of a new programmed school building approximately 180,000 sq.ft. in size and including: A new high school building on a campus of approximately 48 acres, sized for 1100 students with future growth to 1500 students taken into consideration in the design through space planning. The high school building shall be comprised of high school curriculum classrooms, administrative and student support offices, performing arts classrooms and theater, career technical education (CTE) classrooms/shops, library/media center, cafeteria and kitchen, competition and auxiliary gymnasiums, utility planning for a future indoor pool and support spaces, and accessory athletic facilities: locker rooms, weight rooms, wrestling rooms, and coach offices. The high school building shall incorporate an ICC-500 storm shelter per State of Illinois school requirements. The high school building shall incorporate an emergency generator supporting select spaces within the building. The campus shall comprise of athletic facilities and parking for approximately 1000 spaces broken out into base and alternate bids. The athletic facilities shall include a competition football stadium, a competition football field sized for soccer, all weather track, competition baseball field, competition softball field, tennis courts, and a shared building structure housing ticket sale, concessions, restrooms, locker rooms, and storage/maintenance.