Kaskaskia College President George Evans says with the college board giving final approval to a $40-million dollar general obligation bond issue last week, everything is set to go on a major renovation of the main college campus beginning this summer.
Evans says the first part of the project to renovate and resize classrooms on the second floor of the original classroom and administrative buildings, including HVAC replacement, will begin right after the spring semester ends next May.
“The hope is to have the second floor very near or at completion by the time our Fall ’23 students come. The following phases would be the first floor, auditorium area, fine arts area, and gymnasium.”
Evans says the other part of the project includes the replacement of all of the parking lots.
“They served their purpose. They are 52 years old. They have definitely shown wear and tear to the point that they are a risk. Having the ability and access to the referendum dollars to begin the geographic and design phase of the Eastern Parking Lot and ST annex parking lot is pretty exciting. We now have the official starting point where we can start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Realistically, those arriving for fall classes in 2023 will pull into Kaskaskia College to new parking lots.”
Evans says they are still finalizing documents with the Capital Development Board for the replacement of the west parking lots in front of the school.
Evans says in addition to providing the new building projects, the $40-million bond issue will also refinance $24.2-million in existing bonds that will be paid off at 2-percent interest savings.
Evans says the improvements will make the college ‘state of the art’ and put the main college campus in good shape for another 50-years.
