Maine Township District 207 introduces $240.7 million plan to redesign schools

Maine Township High School District 207 wants to spend $240.7 million to upgrade its three high schools, creating modern learning spaces, stronger security at school entrances and a new field house at Maine West High School in Des Plaines.

Most of the massive project would be paid by borrowing $195 million in bonds, with the cash in the district's reserve covering the rest. For the average homeowner, the bond issue could add between $222 and $350 annually in property taxes for 20 years, depending on whether the resident lives in Des Plaines, Niles or Park Ridge.

Residents could vote on the proposal in a referendum as early as the November election.

District administrators shared details of the plan with news media on Thursday.

"We see the redesign as the re-imagining of facilities for how school is done and how it will be done in the future," Superintendent Ken Wallace said. "How we do school today is fundamentally different from how our schools were built."

The proposed changes follow similar themes at all three high schools.

Administrators want to create additional space for collaboration in classrooms, libraries, dining rooms and even hallways. This means space for students to work in groups and easily move desks and furniture. Best practices in education have changed from "industrial" - where students sit in rows of desks - to collaborative learning zones, Wallace said.

Additionally, each school would have a centralized area for support services, which help students who need tutoring, counseling or career advice. Those services currently are scattered across schools, making it inefficient, officials said.

Under the plan, a vast majority of classrooms would receive painting, lighting and furniture upgrades. The locker rooms and fitness areas for physical education classes also would be renovated.

The district's core infrastructure - including plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems - also is in dire need of updating, officials said. At Maine East High School, for example, some infrastructure is original to the building constructed in 1929. It will be more cost-efficient to replace infrastructure than constantly pay for repairs, officials said.

The entrance to each school would be changed to enhance security. New front entrances with secure vestibules would prevent visitors from entering without being cleared by a staff member.

Other proposed changes would vary by schools.

Most notably, plans include building a field house at Maine West High School, which is the only school without one. Similar plans fell through the last time the district had a bond referendum in 1967. The field house would be connected to the existing athletics area on the southeast wing. At 35,700 square feet, it would be the only significant new space added to any of the schools.

At Maine South, another hallway connected to the A-wing on the east side of the school would be added, eliminating the need for students to walk outside. Maine East's first floor would be fully handicapped-accessible without the need for students to use wheelchair lifts.

The tax impact on residents would depend on where they live. In Des Plaines, the owner of a $242,600 home, which is median value in the city, would pay $222 more annually. The average Niles resident with a $271,300 home would pay about $234 more. A Park Ridge resident with a median home value of $380,200 would pay an extra $346.

Wallace said the district has been fiscally responsible but is limited in how much debt it can extend. Because the schools are aging, the costs of keeping up with repairs and upgrades are beyond the district's ability to internally borrow money.

"We've tried to honor the taxpayers," Wallace said. "We're tried to be good fiscal stewards."

The district will be hosting open houses and tours at the high schools in April and May. The school board could vote on whether to put the referendum on the ballot as early as July.

Here's a list of upcoming open houses at each high school:

• Maine West High School: 10 a.m. Saturday, April 28, and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 9.

• Maine South High School: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 1, and 10 a.m. Saturday, May 12.

• Maine East High School: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 3, and 10 a.m. Saturday, May 5.