District 207's board will review a $24 million plan for summer 2027 construction across its three high schools at a Monday, Oct. 5, meeting in Park Ridge.
The projects represent year three of the district's five-year facilities master plan, first reported by the Journal & Topics. The board's Buildings and Grounds Committee, chaired by board member Dana Jaime, reviewed the plan at a Sept. 18 meeting before bringing it to the full board.
Four items account for most of the spending: $6.1 million for security system upgrades districtwide, $4.1 million for new artificial turf at Maine East's stadium, $3.7 million for auditorium audiovisual overhauls at all three high schools, and $2.7 million to demolish Maine East's old pool.
Maine East turf and pool
Facilities Director David Ulm told the Journal & Topics the district spends an "inordinate amount of man hours" maintaining the natural playing surface at Maine East. The school is the last of the district's three campuses to get artificial turf. Maine West in Des Plaines received new turf during summer 2026, and Maine South's field was replaced in recent years.
The pool demolition is a second attempt. The district scrapped the project during summer 2026 after crews discovered a void space beneath the pool filled with muck ranging from 2 to 53 inches deep, according to Aug. 3 board minutes. Structural engineers recommended further investigation.
Ulm described the subsurface problems as "unforeseeable conditions" that would have caused too much disturbance to continue.
The rescheduled demolition carries a $2.7 million budget.
Other Maine East projects include a $600,000 tuckpointing job, $430,000 in paving, $375,000 for water main and sewer line replacement, a $350,000 upgrade of stadium lights to LED, a $284,000 loading dock lift rebuild and $100,000 for costume storage.
Security and auditoriums
The $6.1 million security line item will extend new doors and locks to upper floors across all district buildings. Exterior and first-floor doors were completed before the 2026-27 school year, Ulm said.
Auditorium upgrades at Maine East, Maine South and Maine West total about $3.7 million: $2.4 million for new loudspeaker and audiovisual systems and $1.3 million for video and lighting equipment.
Maine South and Maine West
At Maine South, the biggest ticket is a $2.4 million roof replacement over the natatorium and special needs area. Other projects include $600,000 in tuckpointing, a new learning lab budgeted at $400,000 to $500,000, a $75,000 monument sign, $75,000 in concrete work and $45,000 for door replacement.
Maine West's list is shorter: $300,000 to remodel first-floor B-wing washrooms, $275,000 in paving and an $80,000 career and technical education lab conversion.
Districtwide, the plan also includes $300,000 for tennis court resurfacing, $260,000 for sealcoating, $200,000 for directional signage and $60,000 for fencing.
What's next
The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the District 207 Administration Center boardroom in Park Ridge. The board is reviewing the plan, not voting on it. Superintendent Tatiana Bonuma noted at the Aug. 3 meeting that the district is coordinating with the park district on whether July 4, 2027, fireworks can be held at Maine East during the planned turf installation.
