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 Unfortunately, the outdated layout and condition of our aging high school makes these goals a challenge to achieve.
On Tuesday, November 5, 2024, the Mundelein High School District 120 community will be asked to vote on a $149.5 million facility improvements referendum.
The District 120 Board of Education on July 9 decided to proceed with this referendum to fund high-priority capital facility needs at the high school. 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 non-referendum dollars towards the project. These funds would be used in conjunction with the $149.5 million of voter-approved referendum dollars.
The following is how the referendum will be stated on the ballot:
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?