Roadmap115

Facilities Master Plan for Lake Forest High School

What is a Facilities Master Plan?

A Facilities Master Plan is a living document that outlines a long-term strategy, or roadmap, for future planning.

Facilities Master Plan Timeline

Fall 2006 - Fall 2008

In November 2006, a $54M referendum was passed for District 115. Between 2007 and 2008 the LFHS West and East Campuses saw renovations and major infrastructure investments. The referendum funds improved, repaired, renovated and equipped the Lake Forest High School East Campus building, including the creation of additional classrooms and laboratories, a music wing, a new student dining room, a large atrium (Commons), the library, security upgrades, and life safety and technology improvements. The funds also improved, repaired and equipped the Lake Forest High School West Campus building with an Administration Center, field upgrades, and new lighted varsity football field.

Fall 2018 - Spring 2020

In 2018, the District 115 Board of Education approved a Facilities Master Plan Proposal and work began in November 2018. Over the course of two years, the Master Plan process included facility assessments, educational assessments, and financial assessments. A Facilities Oversight Committee was established, made up of community members, parents, and staff. Together, the Committee set out on a three-phase process to develop a roadmap for the future of Lake Forest High School, and met 19 times up through May 2020. Student, faculty, and staff surveys were conducted, meetings were scheduled with students, faculty and staff, and peer institutions were toured. A complete physical assessment of the building was completed in the summer of 2019.

A community Open House took place in March 2020 and attendees toured different stations throughout the building to learn more about themes including flexibility and furniture, collaboration and connectivity, technology, and collaboration and transparency. Feedback was gathered from this opportunity and the District alongside Perkins and Will, architects of record, began to prioritize and create budget updates.

Spring 2020 - Fall 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic delayed Facilities Master Planning work until November 2021. Remote learning and major shifts in education and how the world works led the District to hit pause on facilities planning.

Fall 2021 - Present

In November 2021 the Facilities Oversight Committee expanded to include more stakeholders and reconvened under new Superintendent, Matthew Montgomery. It was determined that the physical needs of the building be addressed without delay and the educational assessment be revisited in light of how education, work, and the world had shifted as a result of COVID-19. At the December 2021 District 115 Board of Education meeting, the Board approved a bond issuance of $15M to be dispersed over the course of 3 years to address urgent and required facilities maintenance work while revisiting the educational assessment as it relates to meeting the  needs of LFHS students in the future.

A community-wide forum will be held on March 1, 2022 to update the community on plan progress to date. Following the Forum, community members are invited to:

• Watch a recording of the event
• View a virtual tour of LFHS
• Provide feedback (link forthcoming)

Why Now?

It is District 115's Mission to inspire the passion to learn, and the courage to know oneself; and Vision to develop each student’s capacity, character and confidence to make a difference in the world. This is an opportune time to reimagine what LFHS students need to be successful in their future lives, education, and careers while prioritizing a commitment to our community and responsible fiscal management.