On Nov. 5, 2024, the MHS school referendum vote passed by over 14%. Now that the referendum passed, the next steps for action are being considered by the School Board, Finance and Facilities Committee, and the Director of Facilities at MHS who works with the architects.
Peter Rastrelli, President of the High School School Board and member of the Finance and Facilities Committee, worked hard in order for the referendum to be shared and promoted to the community.
“As a part of the school board, we had to promote the facts of the referendum, we couldn’t promote a vote one way or the other,” he added, “We held tours at the school and reached out to groups who are impacted by our facilities whether that’s the Stallions football team, the library, village hall, or feeder schools that use our facilities or incoming students,” said Rastrelli.
Nicki Sullivan, community member and chair of the Citizens for Mundelein HSD 120 Referendum Committee, also worked tirelessly to spread the word about the referendum and its proposal.
Specifically, she said how the committee, “distributed branded signs, car magnets, and flyers across the community, joined in local events and reached out to our networks to build excitement and support for the referendum,” Sullivan added, “Individually, we worked to highlight the importance of the referendum and correct misinformation both online and in person.”
Rastrelli said why the passing of the referendum was essential. “We were at a point where it wasn’t going to be safe for our students to be in our school past functional capacity,” he said. Rastrelli continued with a metaphor, comparing the school to a car that doesn’t have enough seatbelts for its passengers–an unsafe environment that can’t be prepared for emergencies.
Rastrelli mentioned how now the focus is on the next steps for construction of the referendum. For starters, the election will go to the county which will certify it on Nov. 22.
While planning out these next steps, Rastrelli said that it is challenging because the administration wants to limit any disruptions that the construction process might have on staff and students. Therefore, the school board decided that they wanted to complete most of the process while students aren’t in school or in spaces where students are not located.
“They can start on some of the construction that doesn’t affect students or staff and the spaces they work in. This includes starting the work on Village Green to add softball, baseball, lacrosse, and tennis courts to the area. They can work on the drainage systems and the field house that will be behind the North Gym,” Rastrelli said.
However, he mentioned that it won’t be until the Spring of 2025 when people will start to see changes being made to the school and areas around it.
Throughout this process, the administration wants to inform the community and MHS staff and students on the changes.
“We are going to do everything we can to keep our community involved,” said Rastrelli. This includes having a timeline of the construction process posted on the school’s website @d120.org as well as photos and videos. “We want the kids to get excited about [the changes] because it’s their school,” he added.
Sullivan said, “With Mundelein’s growth, this construction was long overdue. Our high schoolers deserve a safe, modern space where they can learn, connect, and explore who they are and where they want to go. The new facility also means expanded programs, like skilled trades, to help them prepare for whatever future they choose. Passing this referendum is an investment in our students and Mundelein’s future, showing our community’s commitment to education and our kids’ well-being.”
She added that after the passing of the referendum, she is “incredibly grateful to our community for coming together to pass it. I feel proud to live here and excited about Mundelein’s future,” Sullivan said.
Director of Facilities Kevin Quinn said, “Our sole mission and focus are delivering on our commitments made to the community over the past few years. District 120 and our partners, Wight & Company Architects and Elara Engineering, continue preparing construction documents and project schedules. Our goal is to complete the project safely and expeditiously while minimizing the daily operations of MHS. Staff, students, and the community will be regularly updated as we proceed. We continue to be ‘Focused on a Strong Future.’”
