BLOOMINGTON - Bloomington District 87 officials outlined their construction plans for this summer, including renovations to all facilities and the Bloomington High School athletic field, at Wednesday night's school board meeting.

"There is a significant amount of work to be done," said Colin Manahan, director of facilities management. "Construction projects are continuous and at this time of the year, we identify the specific projects we want to complete during the summer."

The BHS athletic field will be among the more complex renovations, Manahan said. New bleachers will be installed on both sides of the field.

"There are rumors that the home bleachers will be moved to the visitor's side, but that is not the case," Superintendent Bob Nielsen said.

Capacity for the home bleachers would increase from 2,647 to 3,002 seats. The visitor's bleachers would expand from 363 to 1,013 seats.

Work is expected to begin in March and completed by August. The first home football game will be in September.

"We plan to go out for bid in December and open those bids in January," Manahan said.

"The site would be available for contractors to start work in February, but realistically work would probably not start until March," he said. "It will be six months of pain and suffering, but then it should be all done."

In August, the board restructured $10 million in long-term debt to pay for renovations. The refinancing of district debt yielded money the district can use without increasing debt payments.

"That means there will be no additional expense to taxpayers at all," Nielsen said.

Manahan said Bent Elementary School will gain an additional classroom during a renovation in which two rooms will be made into three. Irving Elementary School will get a new ceiling, and lights are scheduled to be added to Oakland Elementary School.

New air conditioning and a restroom will be added to Sarah E. Raymond School of Early Education while the media center will be upgraded at Sheridan Elementary School.

The center hallways will be remodeled at Stevenson Elementary School, and classrooms and the gym floor will be renovated at Washington Elementary School. A new computer lab will be built at Bloomington Junior High School.