In 2013, our community approved an $89 million referendum to address a variety of facilities needs at Deerfield and Highland Park High School as outlined below. Construction continues to proceed on time, on budget, and on scope, and we are appreciative of the community's continued support! All referendum work is slated to be complete by summer 2017, and with all but a few small-scale clean-up projects having been bid out, the overall project is within one percent of the original budget. Be sure to check back for the latest photos and information. Questions about the referendum? E-mail referendumquestions@dist113.org. 

Click here to view an August 15, 2016 referendum update presentation to the Board.

Referendum work includes:

• Classroom renovations at HPHS and DHS, including the installation of LED lighting, new windows, acoustic ceilings, and energy efficient controls; a number of classrooms have already been upgraded at both schools, with additional classroom renovations slated to be completed this summer
• Infrastructure work including replacement of inefficient mechanical and plumbing systems, adding air conditioning, upgrading technology, addressing ADA-related issues, and upgrading fire protection, electrical, lighting and security equipment
• Repurposing and rehabbing the 100-year-old B building at HPHS (exterior work was completed in summer 2015, with interior work slated to be completed for second semester of the 2016-17 school year)
• Rebuilding the C building at HPHS to create a new academic facility
• Renovating the DHS library to address flooding and accessibility issues and transform the space into a larger, more modern media center (completed fall 2015)
• Building new pools at DHS and HPHS to replace the 50+-year-old pools that have structural issues, and address space, depth, and width inefficients and ADA concerns (DHS pool was completed in fall 2015, and the HPHS pool is slated to be completed in spring 2017)
• Building new three-court multi-purpose gymnasiums at DHS and HPHS to meet P.E. curriculum needs (completed in summer 2015)
• Enhancing security at entrances of both high schools (completed summer 2013)
• Resolving accessibility issues in current P.E. spaces at DHS (completed fall 2015)
• Renovation of the commons and cafeteria at DHS (completed summer 2015)

The District has worked in close partnership with architecture firm Perkins + Will, construction management firm Gilbane, and its Oversight Committee to monitor the projects and seek value engineering opportunities to realize cost savings. The District is also in year three of its commitment to allocate a total of $25 million in District funds to fund capital improvement projects associated with the referendum. 

Separate from the referendum-related projects, during summer 2014 the District replaced the Wolters Field bleachers, which had been found to be unsafe several years prior to expectations. During summer 2014 and summer 2015, the District also installed environmentally-friendly permeable pavers in the Wolters Field parking lot using a one-time grant from the state of Illinois in the amount of $368,694 (50 percent of the expense).