Exterior work at Huntley High School enters home stretch

HUNTLEY – Despite battling rain all summer, construction crews should have a renovated Huntley High School football stadium ready for use by Aug. 14, the original deadline to complete the first project of a $35 million school expansion plan.

Project manager Steve Straub, who represents Elgin-based Lamp Inc., informed the Huntley District 158 board during an Aug. 1 committee meeting that the district shouldn’t expect any unforeseen complications now that the $3.64 million exterior renovation has entered the closing phase.

Straub delivered the news before the board endorsed $35,000 in change orders to the project, primarily due to the wet summer and general soil conditions. The expenses to date leaves the district with $4,000 remaining in its budget for the project, which also overhauls the school’s baseball and soccer fields.

“We are in the home stretch of this project,” Straub said.

Crews are expected to start installing the track surface around the stadium this week, Straub said. The work will take them to the Aug. 14 deadline, and the crews then would put the finishing touches on the baseball and soccer fields.

The exterior project, Straub said, should be finalized by the time students return to Huntley High School on Aug. 21 to start the new school year. The Red Raiders also kick off their first home football game Aug. 30.

Doug Renkosik, district director of operations and maintenance, agreed that the project should finish on time and on budget.

“I would have to say overall because of the weather, which was pretty tough in June, I think we are making out pretty well with this project,” Renkosik said.

Board members also turned their attention to the interior high school work, which includes additional classrooms, renovated common areas, and a new field house.

Members endorsed a $1.66 million project fee to the Palatine-based Wold Architects for designing the interior work, as the district aims to start construction next summer.

Members have been planning all year for the Huntley High School expansion, which district officials have said is needed to accommodate the 3,000 students who are expected to attend by 2019.