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Naperville CUSD 203 shifts Kennedy renovation to 2026–27, moves Madison Project Lead the Way earlier
Summary
The board approved an update to the district capital improvement plan that swaps the timing of Project Lead the Way (PLTW) and family and consumer science renovations between Kennedy and Madison junior high schools; the motion passed 6–1 with one nay from Melissa Kelly Black.
Naperville CUSD 203 administrators asked the school board on Jan. 7 to amend the capital improvement timeline approved in October 2024 so that renovations to family and consumer science and Project Lead the Way (PLTW) spaces at Kennedy Junior High are moved to the 2026–27 school year and Madison Junior High PLTW work is moved earlier.
Superintendent Dan Bridges told the board the change is a response to detailed planning that showed it "might make more sense to kind of flip them that way" as staff looked at curricular alignment and facility needs. Administration said the shift will better distribute construction work and district capacity over the coming summers.
Board members asked for clarifications on fiscal impact, sequencing and whether additional study was needed at other schools. Bridges and staff said some PLTW and family-and-consumer-science spaces at other junior highs already have design work completed: Washington and Lincoln projects were previously completed in prior summers, and Jefferson is planned for the upcoming summer. Bridges said the district expects to present the comprehensive facility assessment in March and a separate carbon-action/greenhouse-gas plan is tentatively scheduled for presentation in March as well.
Board discussion included a call from member Melissa Kelly Black for full scoping before approving changes; Black voted no. Member Donna Wahnke and others said the recommendation reflects prudent planning to avoid rework and to address emerging needs at Kennedy. The motion passed on a roll-call vote with Kelly Black the lone no.
Administration said that if the board approves, by the end of the coming summer the district will have completed the PLTW and FACS spaces at Lincoln and Jefferson and will finish Madison per the amended sequencing; Kennedy work would start later and include a more detailed design phase because more extensive renovation may be required.
The district framed the update as an adjustment informed by the comprehensive facility assessment work and as intended to reduce duplication or the need to undo earlier work.
