As Limestone Community High School continues its commitment to providing outstanding learning environments for students and staff, several important facility improvement projects will take place throughout the upcoming summer and fall months. These projects reflect a continued focus on school safety, student experience, operational efficiency, and long-term stewardship of district resources.
The most significant project this summer is the complete replacement of the school’s fire alarm system. The current system has become outdated and has been pieced together through decades of additions and renovations to the building. The main alarm panel is beginning to fail, making replacement both necessary and timely. The new system will provide substantially improved alerting capabilities, more accurate and detailed information for first responders during emergencies, and increased overall reliability for the safety of students, staff, and visitors. This major project will begin immediately after school dismisses for the summer and is expected to conclude in late July or early August. The majority of the project cost is being funded through Health Life Safety funds.
As the fire alarm project limits the extent of projects inside the school building, we are focusing a lot of attention this summer/fall to outdoor facilities around campus. This fall, we will be making substantial improvements to the softball facilities. While the softball playing surface remains in excellent condition, many of the surrounding facilities have outlived their effectiveness and are overdue for replacement and modernization. Planned upgrades include a new press box building that will also house concession and restroom facilities, new dugouts for both home and visiting teams, and an improved backstop.
Additional summer/fall improvement projects include:
installation of shot clocks in both the main and auxiliary gyms to comply with new IHSA requirements;
addition of a fume collection hood and ductwork improvements in the Metal Shop;
replacement of the cyclorama and stage curtain in the auditorium;
varsity baseball field infield rebuild, along with dugout and backstop brick repairs;
HVAC condensate drainage improvements;
replacement of the main LCHS sign along airport road;
repainting of the track surface and improvements to the shot put landing area;
replacement of the Main Gym sound system;
various electrical upgrades and minor maintenance throughout the building.
These projects are part of a comprehensive and aggressive long-term facilities improvement plan focused on maintaining and improving LCHS for current and future generations of Rockets. As always, these upgrades are being completed in a financially responsible manner utilizing budgeted resources and available funding opportunities, including ISBE School Maintenance Project Grants, Peoria County Facilities Sales Tax funding, and Corporate Personal Property Replacement Funds (CPPRT). In addition, the district’s annual budgeting process, long-range financial projections, and established 5-Year Master Facilities Plan help ensure that improvement projects are strategically prioritized and completed in a sustainable and fiscally responsible manner.
LCHS remains committed to being prudent stewards of taxpayer resources. Despite continued investments in facilities and infrastructure, the district’s overall tax rate has remained steady and has even decreased slightly in recent years:
· FY ‘25 - $2.56047;
· FY ‘24 - $2.57402;
· FY ’23 - $2.62277.
At the same time, the district has maintained healthy fund balances and recently earned a perfect 4.0 Financial Profile Rating from the Illinois State Board of Education, further demonstrating the district’s commitment to sound fiscal management while continuing to invest in high-quality facilities for students, staff, and the community.
These continued facilities investments reflect more than just maintenance and construction projects, they represent Limestone’s ongoing commitment to providing students and staff with safe, modern, and high-quality learning environments that support success both inside and outside the classroom. While many of these improvements may not always be immediately visible, each project plays an important role in preserving district facilities, enhancing the student experience, and positioning Limestone Community High School for the future. We appreciate the continued support of our students, families, staff, taxpayers, and the greater LCHS community as we continue working together to ensure LCHS remains a source of pride for many years to come.