Board Awards $4 Million Contract for Middle School Renovations

Crete-Monee School District 201-U Meeting | September 2025

Article Summary: The Board of Education awarded a $4 million contract to BEAR Construction for renovations at Crete-Monee Middle School, a project designed to add classrooms and workspaces. The project came in under the original budget estimates, allowing the district financial flexibility for future facility needs.

CMMS Renovation Key Points:

• Contract Awarded: BEAR Construction received the contract for $4,054,535 via the TIPS Cooperative.

• Project Scope: Construction of seven classrooms, four small group workrooms, and two teacher workrooms.

• Completion Date: The project is anticipated to be completed by August 2026.

• Design Firm: Arcon Associates was awarded the design project for the renovation.

The Crete-Monee School District 201-U Board of Education on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, moved forward with major renovations at Crete-Monee Middle School by awarding a construction contract to BEAR Construction.

The board approved the project amount of $4,054,535, which will be executed through the TIPS Purchasing Cooperative. The renovation aims to address space constraints at the middle school by constructing seven new classrooms, four small group workrooms, and two teacher workrooms.

During the meeting, Assistant Superintendent Jason Okrasinski highlighted that the construction costs came in lower than initially expected. The original budget for the project was estimated at over $5 million. The savings were attributed to favorable pricing secured through the TIPS cooperative and the design reaching 90% completion prior to finalizing costs.

“The additional space will reduce the amount of teachers switching classrooms, utilizing mobile carts, and provide additional areas to accommodate small group work and staff collaboration,” the administration noted in the board packet.

Board Member William Sawallisch moved to award the contract, with Member Janine Woolfolk seconding. The board discussed the importance of locking in contracts to avoid cost overruns. Okrasinski assured the board that while a 10% contingency is budgeted for safety, the use of the cooperative helps secure firm pricing.

In a related action, the board also voted to award the design project for the renovation to Arcon Associates. The administration recommended Arcon after the previous architect’s plan did not adequately address the needed additional space.

The project is funded through proceeds from the sale of alternative revenue bonds, which are secured by dissolving TIF 5 in University Park. The district aims to break ground on exterior work soon, weather permitting, without disrupting the educational environment.