CAHOKIA HEIGHTS, Ill. – Cahokia Unit School District #187 will break ground on a new state-of-the-art high school Friday. The current high school needs costly repairs and has outlived its use, according to Curtis McCall Jr.
“The citizens of Cahokia Heights and Cahokia Unit School District have needed a high school for well over 70 years,” he said.
On Thursday, protestors made up of minority business owners marched outside the district’s offices.
“We are here as minority contractors that have been overlooked for work on what I would identify as the largest project in this community’s history,” Don Johnson, protest coordinator, said.
He alleges that when it comes to big projects, some companies find ways around using minority subcontractors.
“Businesses have been contacting minority businesses seeking to offer a fee or a commission or an incentive to utilize our certifications to give the appearance that we’re participating on a project when in fact we are not,” Johnson added.
During an interview Thursday afternoon, McCall said he is confident the minority goals for this project will be met. He said they are part of the contract, and the district will be monitoring progress.
“We have done everything in our power as a school district to follow the law,” he said.
The slightly more than $80 million contract was awarded to Poettker Construction earlier this month. According to McCall, the company provided the lowest bid.
A company spokesman said Poettker has a proven track record of partnering with minority and women-owned businesses and added that any allegations of impropriety in this case are categorically false and unfounded.
The company spokesman said Poettker has contacted more than 130 minority and women-owned vendors locally and plans to surpass the project diversity participation goals on this project.
The company said Johnson’s company is one of the companies still under consideration for work on the project.
The company spokesperson added that Poettker is a member of the U.S. Minority Contractors Association, calling it “the premier advocacy and assistance agency in the nation for minority contractors, subcontractors, general contractors, and professional service firms in the broader build community nationwide.”
The new school will be built next to the Cahokia Heights Fitness and Community Center. The groundbreaking is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday.
