Governor Quinn Announces $157,000 Fire Safety Project at Illinois School for the Deaf

JACKSONVILLE - Governor Pat Quinn today announced a capital investment of more than $157,000 for a fire safety project at Illinois School for the Deaf in Jacksonville. The investment, funded by the Governor's Illinois Jobs Now! construction program is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to increase educational opportunities and improve public safety across Illinois.

"This investment protects our children and safeguards our state's infrastructure," Governor Quinn said. "Illinois School for the Deaf has a long history of service, and this improvement will help the school to continue to provide instruction for children with hearing impairments."

Sprinklers will be installed in Cullom Hall on the ISD campus for $157,200 by The PIPCO Companies, Ltd. of CITY, the lowest of three bidders. The project will be managed by the Illinois Capital Development Board. Cullom Hall is a dormitory designed to house up to 44 male students.

"Illinois School for the Deaf has many historic buildings on campus," Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Secretary Michelle R.B. Saddler said. "I am delighted that ISD will receive funding to upgrade the sprinkler systems in the residential hall buildings. ISD continues to provide a safe environment for our deaf and hard of hearing students in the state of Illinois."

The Illinois School for the Deaf, founded in 1839, is a state-supported public school for students, ages three to 21, who are deaf and hard of hearing. ISD is accredited by the Illinois State Board of Education, the North Central Association and the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf. ISD is operated by the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation Services.

The project is part of Governor Quinn's $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! Program, which will support more than 439,000 jobs over six years. Illinois Jobs Now! is the largest construction program in Illinois history, and is one of the largest construction programs in the nation.