Herscher Intermediate School Project Tracks to $38 Million Completion by May 2027

Construction on the new Herscher Intermediate School is progressing ahead of schedule, with substantial completion targeted for May 2027. The 60,000-square-foot facility is on budget, with student occupancy planned for the 2027-28 school year. Superintendent Rich Decman stated that the project is proceeding without major issues.

The total project budget stands at approximately $38 million. Decman noted that the district is likely to retain a portion of the contingency funds because no major surprises have emerged during the build. Bids received at the start of the project came in within 1.5 percent of the established budget, according to Jeff Downs, president of Johnson-Downs Construction of Kankakee.

Construction began in October 2025. Downs explained that the company spent roughly two years evaluating seven different options to address the structural issues in the existing building. The old facility suffers from common aging problems, including buckling floors, condensation leaking through brick walls, and sludge-filled pipes that impede toilet function.

In fall 2024, the Herscher school board initially voted to add an addition to Limestone Middle School to house grades 2 through 4. That plan faced community opposition, leading the board to reverse course and approve the new school in Herscher. The new building sits directly behind the old facility on the Herscher High School campus at the intersection of North Elm and West Third streets.

The single-story structure will house approximately 400 students from second through fourth grade. It features three pods of six classrooms each, organized by grade level, for a total of 18 classrooms. The building also includes a competition-sized gym, an outdoor classroom, a commons area, a cafeteria, a library, a music room, and locker rooms.

The gym is designed to serve as a storm shelter for both the intermediate school and the high school. It contains one competition court and two practice courts. A circle drive is planned to manage traffic flow, with buses using Elm Street and vehicles exiting onto Third Street to reduce congestion on Main Street.

Jim Brown, a senior project manager with Johnson-Downs Construction, identified unsuitable soil as a key challenge during construction. The team installed more than 600 aggregate piers beneath the entire building, spaced about four feet apart. Brown described the system as a relatively new technology that compacts the soil, allowing concrete to be poured directly on top.

Students have already begun using the completed playground. High school students taking trades courses have visited the site to observe the work. Brown noted that construction workers have met with these students to provide educational opportunities. The district will share monthly construction updates, including progress photos and budgetary data, on its website.

The old Herscher Intermediate School building is slated for demolition in July 2027. The vacant land will be converted into a parking lot with some green space. Decman said the removal of the old building will change the community view by allowing residents to see the new structure from Main Street.

The first day of school is set for Sept. 9, 2027, and the last day will be June 9, 2027. This schedule aligns with the district's typical academic calendar, which usually runs from August through late May or early June. Students and staff will return from summer break after Labor Day to allow time for the transition.