H-F addition 2020-04-10 022
Local News

H-F board trades flooring for additional classroom in fine arts addition 

The District 233 school board agreed to replace terrazzo flooring in the performance wing of the fine arts addition so that it could add a graphic arts classroom into the new arts wing.

The 5-2 vote was cast at the April 7 board meeting, held remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic.

This addition to the South Building at Homewood-Flossmoor High School will house orchestra, choral and band classrooms. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)

The District 233 school board agreed to replace terrazzo flooring in the performance wing of the fine arts addition so that it could add a graphic arts classroom into the new arts wing.

The 5-2 vote was cast at the April 7 board meeting, held remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The graphic arts classroom was part of the initial plan, but when the board accepted a construction bid in May 2019, the classroom was one of the things it removed from the plans in an effort to stay within the $13.98 million budget.

Cosgrove Construction has been building two new wings onto the South Building – a black box theater north of the Mall Auditorium and classroom space for orchestra, choir and band students. Space occupied by the music students will be converted for fine arts classrooms and studios.

Groundbreaking took place in August and the project is close to being on schedule. With limited time to make changes, the board’s Finance Committee voted in February to trade the terrazzo flooring for vinyl flooring, similar to what is used on the second floor of the field house.  

By doing so, the Finance Committee agreed to take that money and put it into a graphic arts classroom in the fine arts wing. Ed Wright of DLA Architects said dollar-wise the savings from the flooring is close to the cost of the classroom.

Superintendent Von Mansfield said he’s been told putting that classroom in after construction was completed could be twice and maybe three times the estimated $189,800 cost. 

But when the recommendation was presented to the full board, member Beth Larocca, a member of the Finance Committee, said she had misgivings. She wondered if the board shouldn’t save the money for future budget concerns.

“Prior to the pandemic, I was all for adding the classroom. I do understand where you’re coming, but I’m concerned about our future and what lies ahead,” she said.  Larocca argued the board should take the money and hold it for future expenses.

Board member Annette Bannon agreed that now probably wasn’t a good time to be adding the graphic design classroom. She said her decision rested on “fiscal responsibility.”

Larocca and Bannon voted against the switch.

Before voting yes, board member Debbie Berman countered: “We’re not talking about green lighting a new project. We’re talking about completing the project in the way that was presented in the first place.” 

She said approving the changes were “the right thing to do for the children and the learning experience they deserve. It’s not going to affect our finances. We’re not giving up something negatively – not one iota – to do this.”

Member Gerald Pauling, another yes vote, agreed. 

“I think there’s a fine balance in being fiscally responsible and making decisions in a way that there is going to be life after COVID-19,” he said. “In this instance, the balance falls in the favor of adding the classroom when we can do it and certainly not be in a position to pay double later. 

“I do think this is something that adds to the student experience at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, and I think we can have the resources to do this and I think in this instance the balance falls on adding the classroom,” Pauling said, stressing that the facility will be one more thing that “puts us in a position to be a leader.”

Board members Steve Anderson, Pamela Jackson and Nathan Legardy also voted for the change.

This is an enclosed open space, commonly called a black box, being added onto the north end of the Mall Auditorium at H-F High School. It is one of three new fine arts spaces being constructed at the school. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)

 

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