By Howard Packowitz
NORMAL – Unit 5 is more than doubling the space where the district teaches children with special needs at Colene Hoose Elementary School, and developers who’ve built housing in the community are paying for most of the addition.
The school board Wednesday night unanimously approved the bid of $1,008,180 from Peoria-based Bishop Bros., Inc. to become the project’s general contractor.
Unit 5 Business Manager Marty Hickman said $700,000 will come from school land dedication fees the Town of Normal collected from developers. The rest of the cost will come from the school district’s working cash fund.
Hoose principal Adam Zbrozek said the extra space and a new driveway next to the addition will be safer for the children and reduce their anxiety.
“Being able to walk directly into a place where they do feel safer, where they do feel that this is their space, this is where I come. It gives them a chance to have more ownership of that space,” said Zbrozek.
The addition should be completed this winter.
The school board also welcomed two new members. Amy Roser and Alan Kalitzky fill vacancies created by Jim Hayek and David Fortner’s departures. Roser and Kalitzky are expected to run in next April’s election.
The board unanimously approved union contracts with paraprofessionals, educational office personnel, and custodians. The deals combined with a teachers’ contract ratified in May means two years of labor peace, according to school board President Barry Hitchins.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
