The Hillcrest Elementary PTO sponsored the school's annual science fair April 24. That morning, parents had the chance to view the projects. That afternoon, fellow students had the chance to go from booth to booth to see the projects.
School construction on time, on budget
PULASKI NEWS
Pulaski Community School District construction projects at Sunnyside and Hillcrest elementary schools are on pace for completion on time and at budget, according to Nick Phillips, PCSD facilities director.
Both projects are expected to be completed for the start of the 2025-26 school year.
The opening for a skylight to provide natural sunlight to Sunnyside classrooms was recently cut in. “All our unknowns are known there now so there shouldn’t be any surprises going forward.”
Three of four second-grade classrooms and upstairs remodeled bathrooms recently opened at Sunnyside, and 4K, kindergarten, first-grade and third-grade students were previously moved into new classrooms. The fourth second-grade classroom will be completed this summer.
Construction crews are currently focused on the center core of the building. “That will give us the natural light down to the basement. The entire center of the building is out. The learning stairs to lead down there are in and now we’re working on the classrooms surrounding that area.”
The school’s new library has opened. “That is the old cafeteria with the extension of the building for the soft seating area and the innovation hub.” While the library is open, new furniture for it won’t arrive until the end of April.
At Hillcrest, the current focus is on the new addition. Crews are finishing classrooms, working on the lunchroom and the gym floor will soon go in. “We just turned over fifth-grade classrooms.”
As of now, there are a few unknowns at Hillcrest. “We haven’t done so much renovation inside the school, yet, but we’re hoping there will be no surprises and we will start on time,” Phillips said. First-, second-, third- and fourth-grade classrooms were previously opened for use while 4K, kindergarten, art and music classrooms are under construction in the new addition.
The portable classrooms used for several years at Hillcrest to help ease space issues will be removed the first week in June. The portable classrooms worked well. “There have not been any issues with the portables,” Phillips noted.
Staff members at both schools have been great about giving construction crews spaces “so that we can hit our goal of starting on time,” Phillips said.
In November 2022, voters approved a referendum to invest up to $69.8 million to address the district’s increasing enrollment and districtwide needs including:
- Outgrowing elementary schools
- Aging buildings, safety, and security
- Classrooms and support areas in need of improvement
Another piece of the referendum, the Pulaski High School Technical Education wing, was expanded in 2025 and was opened for use at the start of the current school year.
SUMMER SCHOOL: Summer school will again be conducted at Lannoye Elementary and Pulaski High School this year to accommodate typical summer projects throughout the district this summer.
TRAFFIC FLOW: New traffic patterns from driveway/parking lot reconstructions at Hillcrest, Fairview, Sunnyside and Lannoye schools the past few summers have worked well to keep cars off adjoining streets and improve traffic flow, Phillips said.
