Community Engagement and Facilities Planning
CUSD 201 is committed to keeping our entire community informed as we plan for the future of our schools. During our recent listening sessions, one consistent theme was the desire for clear information about long-term facility planning, budget impact, and repair needs.
In response, we are sharing the prioritized capital needs for each building, organized by level of urgency. These priorities were developed in collaboration with district stakeholders, Nicolas Construction, and Legat Architects.
The cost estimates provided are preliminary, serving as an important first step in the planning process. They help us better understand potential costs before moving into the detailed design and bidding phase, which will require architectural and engineering work. This is a living document, meaning it will continue to be updated as projects move forward, new information becomes available, and community feedback is received.
We remain committed to transparency and collaboration with our community as we move forward in planning for the future of our schools.
Please click here to view the summary and spreadsheet of the Board’s prioritized capital needs. In addition, here is the presentation and a summary of the themes that emerged from our listening sessions.
If you have questions or would like to share feedback, please email ecourington@cusd201.org.
Dear CUSD 201 Family Members:
I hope you are enjoying summer!
Thank you for all you do for our students and schools! We need your input on some very important decisions for our school district. Our student achievement is impressive, with even more growth and excellence to come. However, our school buildings need serious attention and we need your voices to be heard.
Please join us at one of the following meetings. You will make a difference by attending and sharing your ideas.
In-Person Engagement Sessions: Virtual Engagement Session:
J.T. Manning Elementary School, Thursday, July 18th, 6:00pm
200 N. Linden St., Westmont Zoom
- Thursday, July 11th, 6:00pm
- Saturday, July 13th, 10:00am
- Wednesday, July 17th, 6:00pm
We are counting on you to share your input as we consider decisions for our school community.
Thank you,
Jack Baldermann
Superintendent – CUSD 201
July 8, 2024
June 11, 2024
Community Unit School District 201 is one of the most special and unique districts in the region. Our students benefit from the individual attention, personal relationships, and community connections only possible in small, community-based school districts while gaining access to the consistent instruction and increased opportunities only possible in unit districts.
As a result, our schools outperform most schools in the state and have earned among the highest ratings. Westmont High School has been designated as exemplary while Manning, Miller, and Westmont Junior High were all designated as commendable for the second year in a row. Our high school has won the DuFour Award as best Professional Learning Community in the country. In addition, Westmont High School was awarded the Blue Ribbon, which is given to schools with an unwavering commitment to helping students achieve at high levels.
However, that high achievement is at risk. While our teachers, students, and staff make the most of what we have, our facilities are aging and creating potential safety hazards. Our four schools are between 44 and 94 years old with leaking roofs, extreme temperature swings due to failing HVAC systems, and crumbling parking lots. Most classrooms have been frozen in time since the 1960s, severely limiting our curriculum and holding our students back.
Our kids deserve better. That’s why our community is working together on a plan to improve our facilities. We will be updating the district’s strategic plan in a fully transparent and collaborative process, developing a community-driven plan for the future of our schools. Please plan on joining us in this important collaboration!
This site provides information using PDF, visit this link to download the Adobe Acrobat Reader DC software.