During its May 21 meeting, the Community Consolidated School District 21 Board of Education approved the transfer of $20 million from the district’s Education Fund to its Operations and Maintenance Fund and subsequently into its Capital Projects Fund to support a series of construction and facility improvement projects scheduled to begin following the end of the 2025-26 school year, as well as future work identified through the district’s 10-Year Facilities and Maintenance Plan.
District officials said the funding will primarily be used to launch major construction work across schools throughout the district once students leave for the summer, including flooring replacement, restroom renovations, classroom and office upgrades, roofing projects and other facility improvements.
The transfer was approved as part of the 2025-26 Annual Budget and authorizes the movement of funds into the Capital Projects Fund, where they will be used to complete planned construction and infrastructure work. Under Illinois State Board of Education administrative code, school districts may transfer eligible revenues from other funds into the Capital Projects Fund to pay for capital improvements.
“The timing of this funding allows us to move directly into a number of important construction projects as soon as the school year ends,” Superintendent Dr. Michael Connolly said. “These improvements are part of our ongoing commitment to providing safe, modern and well-maintained learning environments for students and staff across District 21.”
District officials noted that the Operations and Maintenance Fund includes property tax receipts and other local, state and federal revenues that may be used for capital projects. The $20 million transferred from the Education Fund will provide dedicated funding to support the summer construction schedule while also advancing longer-term facility planning efforts.
“This investment gives us the ability to efficiently coordinate and execute several major projects during the summer months when school buildings are less occupied,” Director of Operations Glen Michelini said. “It allows us to address high-priority facility needs in a focused and timely way while continuing to preserve and improve our schools for the future.”
District leaders said the upcoming projects are part of a broader effort to maintain and upgrade district facilities and ensure learning environments remain safe, functional and aligned with student needs.
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