Naperville District 203 School Board members voted 5-1 Tuesday to spend nearly $12.3 million on a new transportation center, which will be built with energy savings in mind.
The board, which has been studying plans to replace its aging facility since May 2025, approved moving forward with the project in August. In the fall, it was updated to include geothermal wells and solar panels to align with the district’s carbon action plan.
With the updated environmental features, the district is projected to save about $4.3 million in energy costs through 2050.
Initial costs estimates indicated the project would cost between $14.8 million and $17.4 million, which would be paid for with savings built up over time. Adding geothermal powered mechanicals and full rooftop solar was expected to add about $2 million.
That bids came in so much lower than expected is a boon for the district, board member Joe Kozminski said.
“In my mind, this is also an investment for the long-term future of the district with the renewable energy and infrastructure improvements we are putting in there,” he said. “Strategic investments like this are also good because it’ll be saving money down the road for the district.”
Board member Kristine Gericke said the district had been putting “Band-Aids” on the transportation center for a long time. Superintendent Dan Bridges agreed, saying they’d been using mobile units that far exceeded their useful life.
The district is now paying about $4,000 a month in a rented space until the new center is complete.
Board member Holly Blastic added that the building is a key component for the district’s transportation system, and is used throughout the day and the year and not just during peak bus hours.
Board member Melissa Kelley Black cast the sole vote against the project citing budget concerns.
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
