MOKENA, Ill. – The Mokena School District 159 board has approved an emergency expenditure of up to $34,500 to replace two failing hot water heaters at Mokena Junior High School.

The action was approved during Wednesday’s board meeting after officials reported that the 25-year-old units, which are five years beyond their expected 20-year lifespan, had experienced multiple failures this spring.

According to a memo from Chief School Business Official Dr. Teri Shaw, the situation has become critical. “We currently have one hot water heater working,” she wrote. “The second was dismantled for parts to repair the first.”

District staff member Dave Rana solicited multiple quotes from plumbing companies, with the low quote coming in at $34,500 and a high quote of $85,000. The board’s approval allows the district to proceed with the lower-cost replacement. The replacement work is anticipated to take three to four days to complete.

Under the Illinois School Code, the project is exempt from standard competitive bidding requirements because the cost for the repair does not exceed $50,000. Board policy requires prior approval for any renovation project exceeding $17,500.

The project will be funded out of Fund 21 in the fiscal year 2026 budget.