Center Cass Fire Alarm Systems Pose Risks: Report

DARIEN, IL – The local fire district says Center Cass School District 66's buildings meet fire safety standards.

But a "health-life-safety" study by a private firm gives a different perspective.

The issue of fire safety came up as the result of a recent flyer by a group pushing a major property tax hike in Center Cass.

The flyer referred to a November 2021 report by Wold Architects & Engineers, which Center Cass hired.

According to the study, the fire alarm system at Elizabeth Ide Elementary School is "aged and fails frequently, posing a safety risk in the event of an emergency."

The firm proposes a voice evacuation system, with an estimated price tag of $61,000.

Lakeview Junior High is listed with the same problem. The firm made a similar recommendation, at an estimated cost of $86,300, bringing the total to nearly $150,000.

Prairieview Elementary, the other school, has no such problem, according to the report. However, the study says Prairieview's kitchen has a fire hood that poses a safety hazard. The fix is believed to cost $6,000.

In an interview, Elizabeth Uribe, a supporter of the tax increase, acknowledged the fire alarms themselves are in passable condition, as the Darien-Woodridge Fire District's reports indicate.

"You have no quibble from us about that," she said. "The fire alarm panels are a code violation and don't communicate with other systems. As a parent and community member, that is not acceptable."

The school district is looking to increase property taxes by nearly 20 percent. It says it does not have enough money to make it through a full school year.

Center Cass has already made steep cuts, including a reduction in the school day. Officials say more budget cuts are expected if voters reject the tax increase in the Nov. 8 election.

Save Center Cass District 66 is the group that is pushing for the tax hike.