Focused on a Strong Future
District 120 ASPIRES to provide an engaging learning environment, attract and retain exceptional teachers and staff, and deliver a quality education to every one of our students. Unfortunately, the outdated layout and condition of our aging high school makes these goals a challenge to achieve.
Update
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, the Mundelein High School District 120 community supported a $149.5 million referendum to improve MHS facilities.
We want to extend our gratitude for the many people who took the time to learn about the referendum, participate in the process and vote in the election. The community showed it is willing to make a significant investment in the future of our children by expanding and enhancing the Mundelein High School facilities. We are grateful for your support.
This month we will solicit bids for the projects ahead. The bids are expected to be approved in the first quarter of 2025 with facilities work to begin in the spring. We will keep you updated as the district moves forward with the improvement projects.
Key Elements
Key elements of the proposed improvements are:
- Updating aging infrastructure
- Solving overcrowding issues
- Making health, safety and security improvements
- Upgrading instructional spaces
- Enhancing Career & Technical Education areas
Process
The proposal was created out of a need to fund the District’s long-term facility plan, approved in November 2022. After voters turned down a previous referendum in April 2023, the District surveyed the community and solicited public input at town hall meetings last fall.
Since then, significant effort has gone into re-shaping and fine-tuning the original proposal, including cutting more than 36,000 square feet of new construction. This plan represents a $25 million reduction from the previous proposal.
Plan
The updated improvement plan focuses on real needs. Mundelein High School was completed in 1961 with room for 1,500 students. Now student enrollment is more than 2,200 and growing. Plus, many of the school’s central features remain the same as they were 63 years ago.
Most importantly, the high school’s building systems and core infrastructure have reached the end of their useful life. Addressing these needs now allows the community to protect its assets and avoid expensive future repairs.
Cost
The total cost of the project is $199.5 million. The District will allocate $50 million of debt service funds towards the project. These funds would be used in conjunction with the $149.5 million of voter-approved referendum dollars.
Language approved by voters.
Shall the Board of Education of Mundelein Consolidated High School District Number 120, Lake County, Illinois, improve the sites of, build and equip additions to and alter, repair and equip existing buildings and facilities, including updating fire protection systems, constructing school safety and security improvements, replacing electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems, constructing career and technical education and other programming spaces, increasing accessibility with Americans with Disabilities Act compliance measures, renovating food service areas and improving energy efficiency, and issue bonds of said School District to the amount of $149,500,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?