Adam RollinsThe Prairie Central Community Unit School District (CUSD) No. 8, Illinois, will spend $70 million to build an elementary school and make repairs to three separate facilities. Construction is expected to begin in 2026.
Most of the project’s focus will be on building a pre-K through fourth grade building designed to house around 800 students. Located on a 60-acre site, the building will replace three existing facilities that will be demolished once the project is complete.
The structure will feature ample classrooms and learning spaces alongside modern utilities, with the potential for future expansion and additions of more classrooms. Additional work will include building playgrounds, sidewalks, parking areas, landscaping and water, sanitation and stormwater management systems.
The district will retain and improve three additional buildings. Prairie Central CUSD will start by installing air conditioning systems in the buildings. In addition, plans include addressing priority repairs, such as the deteriorating plumbing system. The project will also make ADA upgrades to bathrooms and either repair or replace water heaters.
Additional work will involve upgrading temperature control systems and replacing outdated mechanical system infrastructure. This will include aged boiler pipes, condensate pipes, gas furnaces and circulation pumps. The district will increase the electrical capacity across all three buildings. Roofs, floor tiles and doors are slated for replacement as well.
The final bit of work included in the project will involve building a gym addition to one of the remaining elementary schools. The updated facility will replace the existing all-purpose room that serves as the school gym.
Photo by Nathan Cima on Unsplash
