Board weighs $400 million overhaul at New Trier

NEW TRIER | Board weighs overhaul at Winnetka campus -- could be most costly ever in area

After more than four months of study, recommendations for renovating New Trier High School's Winnetka campus are ranging from $256 million to $400 million -- perhaps the most expensive project for a secondary school in the Chicago area.

The current choices are either renovating the Winnetka campus or building an entirely new campus.

The two options were presented Monday night at a meeting of New Trier's school board, developed by an architectural firm, planning committees and the facilities workshop committee.

Funding for construction would require public approval. Work would not begin until April 2010.

A construction referendum could come as early spring 2009. Board members would have to make that decision later this year.

Board members also may still further examine a "status quo" scenario in which the district would complete selective renovations and repairs, expected to cost $95 million over a 10-year period.

School board leaders have been trying to figure out the next steps for the school for the last few years.

The recommendations, however, are far more costly than such similar projects in the area, including $100 million spent for Bolingbrook High School and $103 million for a current project at Westinghouse in Chicago.

Supt. Linda Yonke has called the Winnetka campus "dated and inefficient."

Tim Hayes, assistant principal at the newer Northfield building, noted deficiencies at both campuses -- space limitations, infrastructure and coherent design weaknesses, and accessibility for those with disabilities. The current facilities also limit scheduling and course offerings, he said.

Both plans now would address these deficiencies, including replacing or renovating the student cafeteria built in 1912 and the tech arts building built in 1931 and never significantly renovated.

Costing an estimated $255.8 million to $325.8 million, the addition and renovation plan would demolish the western third of the Winnetka campus -- the cafeteria and tech arts building, the music building and the loading dock -- and replace it with new construction.

Sun-Times News Group