The funds will be dispersed among 24 school districts with $306 million allotted to school construction, $50 million for maintenance projects, $25 million to alleviate overcrowded classrooms and $20 million will be dedicated to making the state’s schools more energy efficient. The fund may also provide reimbursement for school construction that has already completed.

“Our children cannot concentrate on learning if they’re sitting in a school that’s crumbling,” Illinois Governor Pat Quinn said in a statement. “When I became governor, I initiated the first capital construction program in a decade to elevate our schools and universities to world-class status. The quality of learning happening in our schools will drive tomorrow’s economy. These school construction projects will not only raise the standard of learning in our classrooms, they will bring much-needed jobs to workers around our state.”

The school construction is part of the larger $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now economic recovery initiative, which intends to produce jobs and replace aging infrastructure in Illinois. The initiative is expected to generate 439,000 jobs over the next six years.

With the funding, schools throughout the state will have the ability to construct new schools, classroom additions and renovate aging facilities while also creating thousands of construction jobs for a much-needed boost to the state’s economy. The state will also focus on projects to provide greater access to students with disabilities, repair roofing structures, and replace outdated energy systems.

Cook County schools will receive $23.3 million in funding, which will provide crucial funding to five area school districts. The projects now funded in Cook County include the construction or reimbursement for the construction of approximately 100 additional classrooms.

Clay, Marion and Wayne County school districts in southeastern Illinois will share $52.4 million in educational facility upgrade funds. The additional funds will assist the districts in the construction of pre-K to 5 school designed for 1,600 students in Clay County, the construction of an approximately 1,175-student pre-K to 12 school in Wayne County and an additional eight classrooms in Marion County.

Chicago Public Schools will receive the largest amount from the initiative with $89 million allotted to reviving aging school buildings and construct new facilities in the city. More than $59 million will be utilized for capital construction, approximately $10 million will go toward maintenance projects and $4 million will be dedicated to making Chicago schools more energy efficient.

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A news release from Illinois Governor Pat Quinn’s office stated that the goal of the construction program is to “improve higher education in Illinois while creating thousands of construction jobs for the state’s workers.” The funding is one aspect of the $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! plan, which strives to create 439,000 jobs over six years.

The construction program allotted $90 million for the 2013 fiscal year, spreading it out for numerous institutions. Aurora University received $1.6 million, North Central College in Naperville received $1.3 million, Judson University in Elgin received $744,000, Benedictine University in Lisle received $1.6 million, Midwestern University in Downers Grove received $1.5 million, the National University of Health Sciences in Lombard received $800,000, Elmhurst College received $1.5 million, and Quincy University received $886,722.

Schools such as North Central College submitted proposed construction projects to the state in 2008 and will be drawing projects from the list to decide where to apply the new funds.

Previous state-funded projects for North Central include the school’s Riverwalk Gateway and a new LEED-certified residence hall and recreational center housing 400 students.

Quincy University plans to use the funds for projects the university worked on during the past two summers such as renovating Garner Hall, Tim Weis, Vice President of Business and Finance at Quincy University, said. He stated that the university is using the additional funding as a reimbursement for the expenses of these past projects. The institution plans to replace a boiler and conduct some roof work on the institution’s north campus.

Private universities across the state have received $200 million over four years as a result of the capital construction program.
 

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