'Just The Beginning:' District 58 Breaks Ground At Herrick, O'Neill

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — Officials from Downers Grove Grade School District 58, along with teachers, students and community members, gathered in late April for groundbreaking ceremonies to herald the start of work at O'Neill and Herrick Middle Schools.

The ceremonies were held on April 22 as crews prepare to begin long-awaited expansions to both schools.

“This groundbreaking is just the beginning of a much larger project that will update all 13 schools in the district,” District 58 Board President Darren Hughes said in a statement.

Hughes added, “The board would like to thank the community for entrusting us with the first district-wide capital project since we built the majority of our schools during the post-World War II baby boom.”

The work is part of a $179 million bond referendum that was favored by voters in November 2022.

Below is the rough breakdown of how District 58 plans to use the $179 million:

• Health, safety, security upgrades: $67.6 million
• Maintenance projects: $58.6 million
• Middle school expansion/renovation: $52.8 million

Other expected upgrades at other facilities include:

• ADA upgrades
• Bathroom renovations
• Electrical work
• Heating, cooling and ventilation upgrades
• Plumbing repairs
• Roofing repairs

At the groundbreaking, Superintendent Dr. Kevin Russell said, "We’ve been working together as a school community for years to get to this important day, where we are breaking ground on our new middle school buildings."