Mokena 159 Moves Forward with Over $1 Million in Summer Capital Project Plans

Mokena School District 159 Meeting | February 18, 2026

Article Summary: The Mokena School District 159 Board of Education authorized the administration to seek bids for major summer facility improvements, including a near-$860,000 roofing project and significant flooring replacements across the district.
Mokena School District 159 Key Points:

• Roofing Project: The Board approved a roof replacement and restoration project for Mokena Elementary and Intermediate Schools with an estimated cost of $858,965.

• Flooring Upgrades: A Request for Proposals (RFP) was authorized for office flooring replacements at all three schools, estimated at $180,180.

• Funding: Both projects are slated to be funded through the Fiscal Year 2027 Fund 21 budget.

• Timeline: Work is scheduled to be completed during the summer of 2026.

The Mokena School District 159 Board of Education on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, advanced plans for more than $1 million in facility improvements scheduled for the upcoming summer break. The Board voted to approve the project parameters and authorized the administration to issue Requests for Proposals (RFP) for roofing and flooring work.

The largest project discussed was the roof replacement and restoration at Mokena Elementary School (MES) and Mokena Intermediate School (MIS). According to a memo provided by Chief School Business Official Dr. Teri Shaw, the district is working with Tremco to obtain bids through a National Joint Purchasing Agreement.

The estimated cost for the roofing project is $858,965. The scope of work involves replacing ballasted roof sections that cannot be restored, specifically covering 22,185 square feet. This includes MES Central sections 4 and 4A (above the third-grade hallway), MES South section 1 (above the south gym), and MIS section 4 (west end of north-end classrooms). Additionally, the project includes restoration work on the MES South Gym roof. The new roofs will carry a 20-year warranty.

“We are working off the Capital Plan and the next biggest projects at MIS and MES are the Roof Replacement or Restoration,” Dr. Shaw wrote in the memo to the Board.

In a separate vote, the Board approved issuing an RFP for a flooring projects package with a total project cost budget not to exceed $180,180. This project targets the main offices, reception areas, and administrative offices at MES, MIS, and Mokena Junior High School (MJHS). At the junior high, an alternative option to add stairwell treads is also being considered.

Board Member Eric Bush questioned the estimated price tag for the flooring work during the meeting.

“I was, you know, a little taken back at $180,000 for flooring costs. That’s quite a bit,” Bush said during the discussion. However, he noted that after speaking with the administration, he understood the necessity of the vote.

“To be clear, this is an RFP. This is not a legal statement that we have to do this project,” Bush said. “I think it’s imperative that we get these right numbers tonight and then we can analyze it better next month.”

Dr. Shaw confirmed that the $180,180 figure is an estimate from the district’s architects, Wold Architects and Engineers, and that the actual cost could fluctuate between $150,000 and $210,000 depending on the bids received. The Board also approved an architect fee of $8,281 associated with the flooring project.

In other facility news, the Board reviewed informational items regarding paving projects planned for the summer. This includes sealcoating the MIS hard surface play area, the MES north parking lot, and Willowcrest Lane, with an anticipated cost not to exceed $50,000. Additionally, the MJHS front circle drive is scheduled for resurfacing, with a projected cost not to exceed $45,000.

The roofing and flooring items were approved via a roll call vote.