CHSD 128 board approves RISE Aquatics agreement, leaves door open for Vernon Hills pool use

Community High School District 128’s board approved an annual agreement with RISE Aquatics for the 2025–26 school year on May 19, 2025, voting to authorize the contract primarily for Libertyville High School while keeping language that would allow the club to use Vernon Hills High School pool time if space becomes available.

The agreement was approved on a voice/roll-call motion moved by Lisa Hessel, board member, and seconded by Nina Austin, board member; the roll call reported all members present voting in favor.

The vote followed roughly a dozen minutes of public comment in which students, parents and the Vernon Hills Park District urged the board to continue or expand the RISE partnership. “A RISE partnership would massively benefit us,” said Jack Janssen, a freshman swimmer at Vernon Hills High School. Parent Andrew Spivak asked the board to “extend the contract and allow them to swim in the Vernon Hills High School,” saying the partnership brings equipment, facility improvements and meet-day economic activity. Gwen Janssen, a parent and district taxpayer, said the arrangement affects equity between the district’s two high schools and asked that Vernon Hills students receive comparable support to Libertyville students.

Matt Laporte, executive director of the Vernon Hills Park District, described his agency’s long-standing joint-use relationships with the district and urged collaborative scheduling. He said the Park District’s Turtle swim program “serves over 100 youth per season,” and that the shared-use model has helped keep community programming affordable and provided seasonal work for local high school students.

District staff described the RISE agreement as the district’s annual club arrangement for aquatics programming; presenters said the contract as written designates Libertyville High School as RISE’s primary site but contains flexibility to use Vernon Hills High School if pool time becomes available. During discussion, board members confirmed that the contract’s primary operations are at Libertyville but that expansion into Vernon Hills would be possible when space allows.

The board did not revise the agreement on the dais; it approved the contract as presented. The approval allows the district and RISE to proceed under the terms described at the meeting for the coming school year.

Public commenters and the Park District emphasized student opportunity, facility upkeep and local economic benefits tied to hosting meets; the board approved the contract while leaving scheduling and possible expanded access to future negotiations or available pool time.