D102 Families,
With exactly three weeks until the first day of school, I wanted to follow up on my July 27 construction update with one final update before we welcome students back in person on Wednesday, September 2, for the 2026–27 school year.
While the exteriors of some of our schools may still look like active construction sites, work inside our buildings is progressing rapidly toward completion. We are excited to be nearing the finish line and look forward to sharing the many renovations and upgrades that will enhance our schools for students and staff.
We will use every available day over the next few weeks to ensure our instructional spaces are fully prepared for learning. As noted in my previous update, some elements of Phase 1 construction will continue into the fall. I’ve outlined those projects and their anticipated impact below.
Please know that our highest priority has been completing classrooms, workrooms, and common spaces so that construction does not disrupt instruction, curriculum, or the programs and opportunities available to our students.
At all three Phase 1 construction buildings (Cossitt, Forest Road, and Barnsdale) we are delivering on our commitment to improve and upgrade infrastructure, enhance safety, increase accessibility, and optimize spaces for educational opportunities. Please visit our website to learn more about the vision behind the Renew D102 plans.
There has been no interior construction at Park Jr. High, Ogden, or Congress Park this summer. All three schools are part of Phase 2, which is scheduled to begin in the spring.
We are excited to open the new and improved playgrounds at Ogden and Congress Park at the start of the school year. You may also have noticed that construction is underway on the 16-classroom addition at Park Jr. High. This work will not affect current classes or programming, and it will continue throughout the school year to ensure the new space is ready when 6th graders transition to Park Jr. High next fall.
Although our classrooms will be ready to welcome students on the first day of school, some elements of the projects will take a little longer to complete. In every case, we will maintain clearly defined, secure barriers between student areas and active construction zones to ensure safety.
For any remaining interior work, construction activities will be scheduled outside of the school day whenever possible to minimize disruption to students and staff.
Work Still in Progress and Its Impact
We are excited to welcome students back to our schools, and we have carefully planned for the construction work that will continue into the fall. Our goal in every case is to ensure that students can learn, play, and participate in their regular school activities safely and with minimal disruption.
Barnsdale
The new classroom additions, elevator, and playground are expected to be completed this fall.
In the meantime, we will use several newly designed spaces—including the STEM, Art/Music, and District Professional Development Center spaces—as temporary Kindergarten classrooms. Each space will be furnished and arranged as a traditional classroom. We anticipate moving students into the new classrooms before the holiday season.
Until the Barnsdale playground is complete, Barnsdale and Forest Road students will continue to share a playground using staggered schedules.
As we did last spring, we will also make full use of available outdoor green spaces for play and recreation.
Cossitt
The new gym, elevator, and playground are expected to be completed this fall. We will share more specific completion dates as they become available.
Until the new gym is ready, we will create a daily schedule that allows the existing gym to serve as both a PE and lunch space for all students. The gym is large enough to accommodate the entire student body.
Students and staff will also have access to the green spaces along Ashland and Cossitt for outdoor activities, as well as a portion of the blacktop.
Forest Road
The new cafeteria will take a few additional weeks to complete. Until then, all students will continue to eat lunch in the gym, as they have for the past several years.
Painting of the hallway walls will also continue throughout the fall.
This work will be completed outside of school hours, with adequate time provided to ventilate the spaces before they are occupied.
A Few Other Construction-Related NotesScience Center
The Science Center will be ready to welcome students from all of our elementary schools at the start of the school year. Once the STEM labs are completed at each elementary school, the space will transition to District offices next year.
Village of La Grange Park
We remain grateful for the Village of La Grange Park’s partnership and clear communication as the Village upgrades the streets surrounding Park Jr. High and Ogden.
The Village has prioritized completing the areas closest to our schools before the start of the school year, helping to minimize disruptions for students, families, and staff.
More information specific to each school will be shared by your Principal next week.
Thank you for your continued patience, support, and enthusiasm as we put the finishing touches on our schools and prepare for another outstanding school year. I look forward to seeing many of you at Meet the Teacher Night on September 1 and, most importantly, welcoming our students back on Wednesday, September 2.
Enjoy these final three weeks of summer, and we’ll see you soon!
