The year continues to race by, and signs of summer are all around us, particularly on the campuses of dozens of area educational facilities where administrators are taking advantage of students being out of school to make progress on a range of projects. You'll find details on these educational investments below, as well as an update on the latest milestone with the Metro East levee improvement project. Also making news over the past couple of weeks are investments related to our region's parks, funding both quality of life improvements today and vital transportation initiatives for the future.

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Scott

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Summer roundup: When the school bell rings, the construction whistle sounds (Belleville News-Democrat, 5/28/12)

Several educational facilities in the metro-east have scheduled renovation projects to improve their campuses this summer while the students are on break. Projects range from lower cost patch projects and improvements, to major reconstruction efforts, such as the $24 million senior high school in East St. Louis. For a comprehensive listing of dozens of investments being made in the region's K-12 and higher education facilities click here..

Company pledges funds for SIUE science building (The Alton Telegraph, 5/25/12)

The Alton Telegraph is reporting that SIUE's College of Arts and Sciences has received a $150,000 pledge for the next five years from Sigma-Aldrich Corp., an international supplier of biochemicals. The money will be used to help renovate the campus's new science building, begin a biochemistry degree program, provide naming rights for The Sigma-Aldrich Biochemistry lab and support classroom supplies. The new degree program and renovations will help recruit more students to SIUE. The institution will continue to work towards its goal of raising $50 million in donations from alumni and community support, with $32 million raised to date. (Read More)

New Catholic high school to open this fall (The Alton Telegraph, 5/28/12)

The much-anticipated Father McGivney Catholic High School will open for its first semester this fall. The student body will consist of an estimated class of 40 freshmen for the first year, with the addition of sophomores, juniors and seniors in the years to come. Each student in the upcoming class of 2016 will receive renewable partial and full scholarships. Classes will take place in the north wing of St. John Neumann Catholic School until McGivney High School is complete, with state-of-the-art technology in each classroom. Operational funding is in place and the school has planned a capital campaign for next spring to garner funds for future years. Part-time job opportunities are still available for experienced and qualified teachers. McGivney will provide incoming freshmen with a full set of athletic and extracurricular activities, with a full sports schedule already in the planning stages. (Read More)

Construction to start on long-stalled metro-east levee project (Belleville News-Democrat, 5/29/12)

The Southwestern Illinois Flood Prevention District Council entered a $192,635 contract with Noeth Excavating System May 29 to begin the first phase of the planned $161 million construction project to improve the Metro East levees. The Collinsville company will begin work next month on this relatively minor project repairing corroded culverts and cleaning clogged drains. Designs, plans and funding are also in place for the more comprehensive levee improvements that need to be made, and the council is hoping to receive approval on those by early fall, with construction potentially beginning in November. (Read More)

Plan to focus on use of Alton's parks, open space (The Alton Telegraph, 5/31/12)

The City of Alton is working to transform a portion of the now-closed Robert P. Wadlow Municipal Golf Course into a "gateway to St. Louis" multi-modal transportation center, which would include a railway station serving the planned new higher-speed rail service between Chicago and St. Louis. The transportation facility will be funded by a $13.8 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant, and is a prime example of the type of investment the Leadership Council hopes to continue to attract to the region through its Southwestern Illinois Transportation Enhancement program. (Read More)

SIU plans to renovate Alton dental campus (The Alton Telegraph, 5/31/12)

SIUE has received approval for renovations on the School of Dental Medicine's research laboratories on the Alton campus. The Alton Telegraph is reporting that the renovations will include the re-purposing of 16 existing research laboratories and the creation of shared lab space and equipment. Donated funds, equipment use fees and university operating funds will help cover the cost of the project. (Read More)

Pleasant Ridge Park opens in Maryville, Ill. (St. Louis Business, Journal 5/31/12)

The Collinsville Area Recreation District opened the Pleasant Ridge Park last weekend, celebrating the completion of $3.8 million in improvements. The park now includes a playground with a rock climbing feature, slides, swings and monkey bars. A covered pavilion, bathroom facility, maintenance facility and bike trail have also been added. (Read More)