Community High School District 128’s board on May 19 approved a one-year agreement with RISE Aquatics Club that keeps the club’s primary pool use at Libertyville High School but leaves room in the contract for future use of Vernon Hills High School if space becomes available.

The agreement was approved after a motion to accept the contract and a voice roll call; the board vote was recorded as unanimous in favor. The contract was presented by district staff and described as the continuation of a multi-year relationship with RISE Aquatics Club, with primary operations centered at Libertyville.

The item drew several public comments from swimmers, parents and the Vernon Hills Park District. Jack Janzen, identified as a freshman swimmer at Vernon Hills High School, described the varsity swimmers’ training regimen and said a RISE partnership would “massively benefit” Vernon Hills swimmers, noting RISE had recently turned away more than 100 prospective swimmers because of limited space. “Imagine what we could achieve with the right tools in our hands,” Janzen said.

Parent Andrew Spivak urged the board to extend the contract so RISE could resume use of the Vernon Hills pool, saying the club previously brought meets and revenue-generating events to the community and that the club had contributed equipment and facility improvements in the past. “It makes it not as special” when swimmers cannot practice in their own high school pool, Spivak said.

Parent Gwen Janssen, who said she has swimmers in both the Vernon Hills and park-district programs, framed her remarks as coming from a District 128 taxpayer perspective. She called RISE a long-standing local partner and said the current arrangement “creates more division between our two fantastic high schools and causes a significant inequity of opportunity and support.”

Matt Laporte, executive director of the Vernon Hills Park District, described the park district’s Turtle Swim Club and its shared-use relationship with District 128 facilities. Laporte said the Turtle program serves more than 100 youth per season, that roughly 80% of participants attend District 128 schools, and that the park district’s shared-use agreements save taxpayer dollars and expand access to recreation. He said Libertyville’s larger pool makes it a logical primary home for RISE but that complementary programming benefits both communities.

District staff told the board the written agreement gives RISE primary access at Libertyville High School but includes flexibility to expand into Vernon Hills if pool time becomes available. The board approved the motion to adopt the agreement by roll call vote.

The board did not adopt any additional conditions on the contract at the May 19 meeting; district staff and park-district representatives will be the point people for any follow-up about scheduling or facility improvements.

The RISE Aquatics agreement is scheduled to cover the 2025–26 season; any future changes in pool use would require coordination among the club, the district and the park district.