Residents Offer Feedback on Future of D112 Schools

North Shore School District 112’s community meetings continue this week to discuss the future of the district’s aging school buildings and the future of elementary school education in Highland Park and Highwood.

A citizens advisory committee appointed by the district superintendent has been tasked with taking a deeper look at the district’s sustainability issues in terms of facilities, finances and delivering a 21st century education to students.

Some of Dist. 112’s aging buildings -- the average age of which is 74 -- are in need of significant repairs. The buildings were designed for the industrial age and are not exactly conducive for educating children for the information age.

The district must now decide if they should leave the buildings alone, renovate and possibly close some of them, or build new schools. Before any decisions are made, the board of education and other district officials are seeking feedback from the community.

Read: D112 Weighs Future of Elementary Schools at Community Forum

The next community forum is scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, at the Highland Park Country Club, 1201 Park Ave. W.

Four more forums are planned after Wednesday, including the last presentation on March 2 which will be conducted in Spanish.

Participants must register if they wish to attend one of the forums. All Highland Park and Highwood residents are encouraged to attend.

Additional dates are:

• 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, Highland Park Country Club

Specific schools which could be closed or redrawn boundaries will not be discussed at the meetings.