Building a Foundation for Success

The newly developed 2023-2028 District 67 and District 115 Strategic Plans include goals of sustainable and innovative facilities and resources that are distributed in an intentional, fiscally-responsible manner to transform learning experiences and support academic growth, safety, and wellness.

Finance and Resources

This summer, we are working diligently on our 2023-2024 budgets and ensuring that our finances and decision making are transparent and open to our residents. In concert with the Board Finance and Operations Committees led by District 67 Board member Carl Kirar and District 115 Board member David Burns, proposed budgets for each District will be reviewed in July and shared with the respective Boards of Education in August. The drafts will then be placed on file for public inspection and comment, and presented for approval in public budget hearings for each District adjacent to September Board meetings on September 12 for District 115 and September 26 for District 67.

Facilities

There are three main categories of planned construction work that are occurring simultaneously across both Districts this summer and over the next several years.

District 67

Cherokee Construction

This summer, we are working to remove certain physical barriers at Cherokee that currently make it difficult for those navigating the building with mobility assistance devices. The Board has chosen to take advantage of this construction opportunity to also build two new classroom spaces – a science lab and a larger multipurpose classroom that can be used for inquiry-based learning, STEM projects, and other innovative learning opportunities for larger groups. While these projects at Cherokee are being prioritized due to the necessary accessibility improvements, the Board intends to replicate similar classroom spaces at Sheridan and Everett, as well as other upgrades at DPM in the future. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 5, marking the beginning of this exciting work over the summer and into fall.

First and foremost, thank you to our community for the passage of the $105.7M referendum. This earmarked maintenance and construction funding is essential to addressing the aging facility and unique structural needs of our historic Lake Forest Community High School. While referendum-funded construction work is not planned to begin until the summer of 2024, this summer, D115 will use its existing borrowing capacities to fund several critical maintenance projects.

Additionally, we have assessed the critical accessibility needs at Cherokee Elementary School and will be addressing these alongside the addition of new instructional spaces. We will be evaluating these same opportunities at Everett and Sheridan Elementary Schools and Deer Path Middle School.

We strive to ensure that each resource and every dollar is maximized and utilized for the purpose of student growth and achievement. Our students, and their safety and success, are our top priorities.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jennifer Hermes Chief Operating Officer/CSBO

District 115

Referendum Construction Work

We are in the beginning stages of creating a construction timeline and identifying the phases of this work. The inclusion of projects in each phase will be determined by a variety of factors including urgency, availability of materials, and competitive bids to complete the work in a timely and cost effective manner. It is currently anticipated that all construction will be complete by the fall of 2027.

Consulting with us during the course of this work will be community members who applied and were selected for the District 115 Capital Projects Advisory Committee.

“ The Finance and Operations Committee will also be actively engaged in the project tracking process and sharing progress updates with the community.”

—David Burns, District 115 Finance and Operations Committee Chair

2023 Summer and Fall Construction Projects

In 2021, the D115 Board of Education approved the issuance of $15M General Obligation Debt Certificates (Limited Tax) to be issued by the District pursuant to Section 17(b) of the Local Government Debt Reform Act in order to alter, repair and equip District facilities and improve the sites thereof. These funds were dedicated to several time-sensitive projects and repairs that could not wait until the receipt of any referendum funds and are completely separate from any of the $105.7M. Based on current timelines and estimates, this pre-referendum construction is anticipated to be complete by the end of 2024.

Health and Life Safety (HLS) Work

Every 10 years, all public school buildings must be resurveyed by an architect licensed by the State of Illinois. All work necessary to bring the building into compliance with minimum Health and Life Safety (HLS) standards is noted and used to inform the District as we create multi-year capital plans. Physical inspections will occur at all four District 67 buildings this summer and reports will be presented to the Board of Education throughout the 2023-2024 school year. We will be asking the architect to complete an additional enhanced accessibility report beyond what the HLS report includes.

Deer Path Cafeteria Redesign

The District maintains a mid-tolong term facilities plan for each building, including DPM, and the renovation of the DPM cafeteria to increase accessible furniture, create a student hub, incorporate the exterior patio space, and facilitate healthy social interactions was slated for several years down the road. We are fortunate to accelerate these cafeteria renovations beginning this fall because the Spirit of 67 Foundation has generously offered to donate all of the furniture, which allows us to begin the design process earlier than expected. The goal would be to have all furniture in place by the end of 2023.

District 115

Sheridan Playground Updates

In 2022, the Board of Education approved a renovation of the Sheridan playground. The Spirit of 67 Foundation approved a grant to cover the cost of new playground equipment, which will be installed and completed by August 2023.

Replace and Repair

At the high school’s East Campus, we will replace all of the 83 nonhistoric windows on the east/rear side of the building. In addition, we will complete time-sensitive HVAC system equipment replacements, replace pipe fittings in the upper mechanical space, and undertake miscellaneous building exterior and interior door replacements. Paving work will also be underway, including the repair of the broken permeable pavers in the senior parking lot, and resealing and re-striping the south and east parking lots.

Transition Center Redesign

In 2012, the Transition Center Program was brought to West Campus, returning LFHS students that previously attended outplaced institutions. The program has since grown tremendously and to better meet the needs of our students, a true transformation of their space is needed. The complete redesign of instructional spaces will include a new fully operational teaching kitchen, access to daylight, and a vocational classroom. The work is anticipated to start in August and be substantially complete in December 2023.

Facilities Garage

A new facility will be built on the west side of West Campus building that will include offices, storage for grounds, a grounds workshop along with an athletics cold storage area. The building will also include a set of public restrooms to serve this area of the campus frequently used for athletic events. Currently, guests or players have to walk to the far south side or far north side of the property to use public restrooms. This work is also expected to begin in August and be complete in December 2023.

General Maintenance

Crews began work in the late spring and will continue into the summer to remove and replace the roofing on the entire West Campus building along with masonry and tuckpointing work. We will also replace the current main administration parking lot, including the addition of more spaces, and main drives on campus. Critical HVAC repairs will also be completed by August 2023.