$3.6M in renovations set for Fox River Grove School District 3

More than $3.6 million in renovations are coming to Algonquin Road Elementary School and Fox River Grove Middle School over the next two years to create a more collaborative and creative environment for students, Fox River Grove District 3 Superintendent Tim Mahaffy said.

“We’re trying to get away from the desks and rows,” Mahaffy said. “In today’s society, you have a very collaborative, open environment.”

Mahaffy described the project as a “full building refresh” that will integrate labs for science, technology, engineering and math courses; reshape classrooms and libraries to encourage collaboration; and put Chromebook computers in the hands of students in third through eighth grade.

Other improvements will include upgrading playground equipment at Stanger Park, moving all music classes into the main building at Algonquin Road Elementary School and enhancing safety.

Security upgrades will include a Raptor Visitor Management System to log and track visitors, swipe access points and a camera intercom system.

The project also will sand, refinish and repaint the middle school’s main gym.

The money to pay for the improvements will come from the district’s cash reserves.

“We’ve been saving a little while to do a building refresh,” Mahaffy said.

The projects will begin in the summer.

District 3 has rolled out other recent building and technology improvements, including security cameras throughout the schools and on all buses; new LED lighting; large fans in all gym spaces, refurbished floors, wall mats, curtains, ceiling fans and lunch tables in the Algonquin Road Elementary School gymnasium; new wireless projectors at both schools; and a new online registration system.