Mundelein (Illinois) district plans $199.5 million overhaul of high school

The Mundelein (Illinois) High School District again will seek voter approval to pay for improvements at the 63-year-old facility, but at a reduced amount.

The Daily Herald reports that voters will be asked in November to approve a $149.5 million bond oproposal. The money would be used at Mundelein High School to replace aging infrastructure, upgrade instructional spaces, make safety and security improvements, and address overcrowding.

Last year, the district failed to win approval of a $175 million referendum. The revised proposal has reduced the amount of new construction by more than 36,000 square feet.

Work to expand and renovate the campus will cost $199.5 million in all, but the district will allocate $50 million non-referendum dollars to the project.

“The high-priority projects that were part of the original proposal are still being pursued but many have been downsized,” said Mundelein Superintendent Kevin Myers.

Among the changes: reducing the number of proposed multiuse spaces; eliminating a black box theater; reducing the scope of the north gym renovation; and incorporating career and technical education spaces into the existing high school rather than building a new facility.