May 27, 2025
Education

Wheaton-Warrenville District 200 hosts final infrastructure engagement session

By NATHAN LURZ
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Whittier Elementary School Principal Chris Silagi speaks to Community Unit School District 200 residents about proposed improvements to the school at the Feb. 17 community engagement session at Monroe Middle School. The session featured district staff and administrators detailing possible plans to address facility needs in the district and soliciting feedback on community priorities. (Nathan Lurz)

WHEATON – Community Unit School District 200 has given its residents a chance to weigh in, and now the district has to decide what to do with what it heard.

On Feb. 17, the district held its final community engagement session at Monroe Middle School in an attempt to get public input and support for a master facilities plan to address critical infrastructure needs and improve educational space in district schools.

Notably, attendees got to see specific cost estimates and improvement options for each school in the district, save for the newer Hubble Middle School.

Most of the proposals centered around converting portions of libraries to more open, tech-centered library learning centers; better, more mobile furniture in classrooms; more secure entrances; and basic needs including new roofs.

However, some were notably more in depth, particularly the plan for the Jefferson Early Childhood Center, which was at the center of a failed 2013 infrastructure referendum and has been frequently pointed to as the district building with the most improvement and educational needs.

The architectural firm Perkins + Will will present its final plans based on feedback from the community at a Board of Education meeting in April. The board will then decide how best to prioritize the projects as well as weigh funding plans for them.

For the full breakdown of each school's improvements and price tags, visit cusd200.org.

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From the community

"There's definitely a need, but it's not as clear in what are needs versus wants. Tonight sounded like a lot of wants, which are great, but we need to address the needs first."

– Michelle Brejla

"People did not come, and I'm sorry about that because it was run very well, and I learned a great deal."

– Jan Kay

"I don't think [better education spaces] are a want – that's a need. There are times when classes are a lecture, but that's not what the curriculum supports. ... If there's a different referendum that covers all 20 schools, people who have a child in school might be more interested. Sadly, some people won't vote unless it directly affects them."

– Deborah Beccasio

"I'm surprised there's not more public attendance, especially from parents in the district. ... I like what I'm hearing. There's a lot of data, a lot of experience and teaching. I've read a lot about teaching for different learning styles ... and these plans are using a lot of them."

– Julie Hardwick

WheatonWarrenvilleCommunity Unit School District 200