Board awards field construction contracts and approves $11.5M Amaresco energy‑performance contract for Emerson

The Park Ridge CCSD 64 Board approved two construction items tied to the district referendum: awarding field construction contracts to the lowest responsible bidders not to exceed $4,856,622, and approving an energy-performance and renovation contract with Amaresco for Emerson Middle School not to exceed $11,497,200.

Board members said the city and zoning approvals enabled action on the field contracts. "I move that the board approve the awarding of the contracts to the lowest responsible and responsive bidders for the construction projects at field not to exceed $4,856,622," a board member said; the motion passed by roll call.

The board then heard a detailed presentation by Amaresco staff. Diana Vargas, senior account executive, and Jackson Bodie, project development engineer, described the Emerson scope: refurbishing air handlers, adding gymnasium cooling, replacing hot-water boilers, installing a new building automation control system, replacing the fire alarm with the district-standard Notifier system, and upgrading interior and exterior lighting to LED. They also described classroom and lab renovations, two new flexible labs with mobile furniture, a testing conference room, a mothers’ room, an expanded teachers’ lounge, a life-skills special-education suite with kitchenette, washer/dryer and hygiene stations, updated gym floor protection through a new retractable curtain system, rekeying and lock retrofits to allow interior thumb-turn locking, and updated signage for first responders.

Board members raised a safety question about interior classroom doors that include large glazing panels. Gareth asked whether the glazed doors would offer the same protection as a solid door and whether glazing might be resistant to impact; Amaresco suggested options including impact film or higher‑spec glazing and agreed to price follow-up options. An Amaresco engineer said the retrofit will provide interior thumb-turn locking and that "the doors are very solid still" while noting film retrofits could be a cost‑effective way to increase resistance to breakage.

The board approved the Amaresco contract on a subsequent motion. Board members and staff said mechanical equipment deliveries and construction scheduling were planned to meet the district’s summer timeline.

The projects are part of the district’s referendum-funded capital plan; administration said it will return with cost and specification updates if a door-film or glazing change order is added.