While Evergreen Park Elementary District 124 is seeking funding to address facilities needs at its schools, including the almost century-old Central Middle School, the district recently decided against adding a referendum to the March 17 primary ballot.

Superintendent Jenna Woodland said after hosting four public information hearings regarding the district’s $110 million facilities proposal, community support was not high enough to proceed with the referendum. She said about 56% of district parents supported the plan, which should be at 70% to account for lack of support among others living in district.

“What I ultimately think happened is it was a very, very large financial ask of our community,” Woodland said Friday. “And I get that, I respect it.”

The proposal included constructing a building to replace Central Middle School at 9400 S. Sawyer Ave., along with additions and renovations to the district’s four elementary schools. Woodland said the district will now prioritize improvements it can fund within its budget.

“Our survey really did indicate that the community’s higher priority would be Central Middle School and addressing the needs of that building,” Woodland said. “So I think that’s good information.”

The district worked with DLA Architects of Itasca, which designed the Oak Lawn Community High School field house that remains under construction, to envision a Central Middle School with improved security and access for people with disabilities as well as modern classrooms and shared spaces.

A rendering of the proposed replacement Central Middle School in Evergreen Park. (DLA Architects)

The existing building, Woodland said, has “created a number of concerns in terms of the health, life and safety of our students” that are difficult to solve due to its age. Renovations are difficult due to building additions approved in the past, which created a structure Woodland said is piecemealed together.

The superintendent said navigating the building is difficult for students with disabilities, as it lacks compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The building has one elevator that needs to be replaced, as it has repeatedly failed inspections and stopped working during school days.

Woodland said on one of the days the elevator failed this year, school staff had to perform a two-person lift to help a student in a wheelchair get to her physical therapy. Other students on crutches have had to receive remote instruction due to their inability to move through the building.

“Our largest concern always goes back to ADA compliance and making sure that we’re meeting the overarching safety concerns of kids — making sure that everyone has access to public education at its highest level,” Woodland said.

While Central Middle School is the district’s oldest building, Northeast, Northwest, Southwest and Southeast elementary schools range between 59 and 76 and are in need of their own improvements, Woodland said.

Due to lack of space, elementary school art, music and technology classes are taught from carts pushed from classroom to classroom. Staff continue to use temporary mobile classrooms that are 24 years old and pose their own safety risks to students.

During a Nov. 5 informational session on the facilities proposal, Woodland said the district hoped to get rid of the mobile classrooms in favor of elementary school additions. Woodland said one evening a custodian was cleaning a mobile classroom used by kindergarteners and had to call 911 because someone had broken into the unit.

“What I want you to picture is a group of kindergarten teachers or a group of kindergarten students walking into that mobile in the morning,” Woodland said. “They’re not safe, they’re not secure and they need to be addressed.”

Woodland said the district plans to present an adjusted proposal at the school board meeting in January that will include at least replacing the Central Middle School elevator and addressing ADA compliance issues. The next opportunity to present a referendum will the November 2026 general election.

“At this point, I’m calling it a power pause,” Woodland said. “We want to continue to engage with our community and seek feedback regarding what would be palatable for the taxpayer.”

ostevens@chicagotribune.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/22/evergreen-park-district-124-referendum/