Board hears five‑year capital improvement plan and public hearing opened on $6M working‑cash and $15M safety bonds

District staff presented the five‑year capital improvement program to the Evanston Township High School District 202 Board of Education on Oct. 6, reviewing completed projects, planned work and funding sources.

Staff described the capital program as a five‑year roadmap that looks back one year, details the current fiscal year and anticipates three future years, and noted the district must prioritize projects because needs outpace depreciation and available levy capacity. Staff said the Arts and Innovation Wing centennial project is a multi‑year effort: the studio theater groundbreaking occurred in July and the theater is expected to be complete in 2026, with further work on a pre‑function gallery and other phases to follow.

Other projects identified in the plan include roofing work, window replacements with associated tuck‑pointing and masonry, IT network and technology infrastructure upgrades, science lab renovations and a multi‑year HVAC installation in the gym wing. Staff said gym HVAC has been a long‑standing need and described the cost and multi‑summer construction timeline; board members stressed the project addresses health and instructional disruptions during hot weather.

For funding, staff outlined a mix of foundation contributions, transfers of operating fund balances (as available), typical two‑year bond or debt certificate issuances (the district’s practice of alternating bonds and certificates), and a one‑time opportunity to use a 2024 statutory change allowing school fire prevention and safety (health‑life‑safety) bonds. The district indicated it plans a typical $6 million working‑cash bond issuance and up to $15 million in school fire prevention and safety bonds to address decennial survey violations and air‑conditioning/HVAC needs in the gym wing.

The board then opened the public hearing required by law to receive comment on the proposal to sell $6,000,000 in working‑cash bonds and $15,000,000 in school fire prevention and safety bonds. District staff clarified the hearing is informational and that the board will vote on bond issuance at a later meeting (the board had passed a prior resolution of intent in September). No members of the public spoke during the hearing. The hearing was formally adjourned after no public comment was received.

No bond sale was approved at the Oct. 6 meeting; staff said a formal vote on issuance is scheduled for the November meeting.