Mundelein School Board places building referendum on November ballot
The District 120 Board of Education on Tuesday unanimously authorized placing a $149.5 million capital improvements referendum on the Nov. 5, 2024 ballot.
A successful referendum would fund a Mundelein High School facilities plan designed to replace aging infrastructure, upgrade instructional spaces, enhance career and technical education spaces, make health, safety and security improvements, and address overcrowding issues.
The school, which opened in 1961, was designed to house 1,500 students. Current enrollment exceeds 2,200 and is expected to grow, especially with the 740-acres Ivanhoe Farms housing development looming in Mundelein’s future.
“We’re faced with some aging facility issues that simply won’t go away on their own. And this comes at a time when education needs are changing and enrollment is growing,” said Dr. Kevin Myers, Superintendent for Mundelein School Districts 120 and 75.
The project would replace much of the building’s original infrastructure which has reached the end of its useful life, improve the efficiency of mechanical systems and minimize costly repairs. The plan includes updates to fire safety systems and other health and safety issues including air quality, accessibility and overcrowding.
More classrooms would be added, health and wellness rooms would be centralized and more space would be allocated to Career & Technical Education programming in order to add skilled trades training in machining and building trades.
The school’s original kitchen and cafeteria will be upgraded to alleviate crowding, health and safety issues. The project will include additional classroom and storage space for the music program and a new multi-purpose fieldhouse for physical education and health and wellness classes, assemblies, performances, tournaments and community events.
“We continue to be recognized for excellence in academics and programming. The only thing holding us back from continuing on this path is our own facilities,” Myers said. “By addressing the school’s most pressing facility and site needs, we can position MHS for a strong future.”
While the project to renovate and expand Mundelein High School will cost $199.5 million, District 120 will allocate $50 million of non-referendum dollars toward the project. If the referendum passes, these funds would be used in conjunction with the $149.5 million of voter-approved referendum dollars.
The District is currently working with its bond counsel evaluating the loan parameters. More details will be provided once the information is available.
The proposal is $25.5 million less than the $175 million referendum voters rejected in April 2023. Since then, the District re-shaped and fine-tuned the scope, cutting more than 36,000 square feet of new construction from the plan. The School Board made the adjustments after surveying the community and soliciting public input at town hall meetings last fall.
If voters approve the referendum in November, construction would begin in the spring of 2025 and last about three years. The District, architect, and construction management team will work together to develop a phasing plan that is least disruptive to school operations while allowing the work to pace out as efficiently as possible to be cost competitive.
Complete information is available on the MHS Website at www.d120.org/2024-proposal/.