Dist. 146 Debuts $20M School Additions As Kids Head Back To Class

ORLAND PARK, IL — The first day of school is always exhilarating, but this year it crackled with excitement as kids headed back to four Community Consolidated School District 146 schools sporting multimillion-dollar additions.

District officials added the new space to accommodate its new, full-day kindergarten program that began last year. The students who were housed in mobile classrooms now have age- and learning-appropriate space of their own.

The wings gave each of the district's four elementary schools new rooms to work with and afforded each school the ability to repurpose old space. In all, Fierke, Fulton, Kruse and Memorial received new classrooms, new playground space, and new art and music space. Fierke, Kruse and Memorial also received new classrooms.

The 18 month-project cost $20 million, and was paid for with a combination of the district's budgeted funds and bonds.

The photos are from Kruse's recent open house, but construction and design at the other schools are similar.

Here's a snapshot of the work done at each elementary school. According to spokesman Keegan Kociss, some of the listed items are new construction and some are repurposed space.

Fierke, Oak Forest- 13,000 square feet, $5.6 million

• Three kindergarten rooms with restrooms
• A new kitchen
• Cafeteria
• Restrooms
• Early learning playground with storage
• Dedicated art and music rooms
• Additional resource space

Fulton, Tinley Park- 5,000 square feet, $2.3 million

• Two kindergarten rooms with restrooms
• Music room with storage
• New early learning playground space with storage
• A new blacktop playground area on the south side

Kruse, Orland Park- 16,000 square feet, $6.5 million

• Four kindergarten rooms with restrooms
• A new kitchen
• Cafeteria
• Restrooms
• Dedicated art room and music room
• New Early learning playground space
• A new drop-off and pick-up area

Memorial, Tinley Park- 4,000 square feet addition, $2.6 million

• A new kitchen
• Cafeteria
• A new P.E. office
• Additional resource room
• A new playground and outdoor educational space