Spotlight on the District's Citizens Task Force

Each month, the LP Link will spotlight an area of District focus with the goal of sharing valuable information and resources with our school community. This month highlights  a significant milestone in the ongoing facility planning: the launch of the Citizens Task Force. On Wednesday, February 11, the District hosted the first of two meetings designed to ensure our long-term master facilities plan is shaped by a broad and representative range of community voices. This engagement phase builds upon the comprehensive facilities assessment initiated in 2024 to address the evolving needs of our students and campuses.


To guide this collaborative effort, the Board of Education has enlisted Beyond Your Base to lead the public engagement process. Their role is to ensure transparent communication, gather community feedback, and help identify the residents' top priorities for the future of Lake Park’s facilities.

Foundation for Planning (2024–2025)

The current phase of community engagement is rooted in nearly two years of intensive study. Following the Board of Education’s approval of ARCON Associates in August 2024, the District conducted an exhaustive, district-wide facility assessment to document the condition of both East Campus and West Campus. This "Discovery Process" included site walk-throughs, input on "wants/needs," and preliminary findings presented in April 2025.


Key themes identified during this assessment included a lack of student collaboration "commons" spaces, the need for modernized performing arts and career-technical labs, and necessary upgrades to PE/athletic facilities and site traffic patterns. Throughout late 2025, a Visioning Committee worked to refine these findings into preliminary solutions, which were then presented for the Board of Education to consider "order of magnitude" budget options. All of these meetings and steps have served as the foundation for seeking broader community dialogue.

The Citizens Task Force: A Community Voice

With the technical "wants and needs" identified, the focus has now shifted to community priority. Approximately 75 people were invited to join the Citizens Task Force and nearly 50 attended the first meeting, representing a wide spectrum of the community, including civic and business leaders, realtors, healthcare professionals, parents, homeowners without children in the District, retirees, senior citizens, and students.

This month’s kickoff meeting was primarily informational, designed to establish a common understanding of the District’s needs and current standing, and included a tour of West Campus. The Task Force began reviewing the District’s history of financial stewardship and the specific facility needs identified at both East Campus and West Campus. This process ensures that any future capital projects align not only with educational requirements but also with the values and priorities of the communities the District serves. Their mission is to serve as a collaborative advisory body that will:


• Review and Refine: Evaluate the proposed facility solutions and their associated costs.
• Prioritize: Determine which projects are most urgent for the community.
• Recommend: Build a consensus recommendation to be presented to the Board of Education later this year.

Modernizing Facilities to Empower Career-Ready Lancers


A central theme emerging from this process is that a Master Facilities Plan is more than just a list of repairs—it is the launchpad that propels our educational mission forward. As shared in our previous Spotlight on Career Pathways, Lake Park is committed to preparing every student for life beyond high school.


Some Lancers are already earning college credits and industry credentials; however, the master facilities assessment revealed that our current buildings frequently hinder these contemporary goals. To bridge the gap to postsecondary success, the proposed plan prioritizes:


• Advanced Career Exploration Labs: Modernizing learning spaces to provide the real-world environments required for career pathways and industry/business credentials.
• Real-World Connections: Providing on-campus infrastructure that mirrors modern workplaces, better preparing students for their Work-Based Learning (WBL) and Career Internship field experiences.
• Enhanced Academic Spaces: Creating spaces that support blended learning and the development of "durable skills" like those embodied by the District’s Portrait of a Graduate.
  

While Lake Park has adapted spaces to meet modern needs when possible–from recent art to culinary renovations–the gap in educational equity compared to peer districts has grown significantly over time. The District has saved on capital spending by living within our means, but this approach is not sustainable as project expenditures increase and revenues decline. The Citizens Task Force is helping to guide capital funding allocation for years to come.

Next Steps and Community Engagement


The final Citizens Task Force meeting will be hosted next month at East Campus and include a tour, detailed overview of the funding proposal, and collaborative discussion among committee members to refine the proposal for broader public feedback.
 

Guided by Beyond Your Base, the District will launch a comprehensive public information program. This outreach–through the use of mailings, video, tours, presentations, and polling–will ensure that every resident in the District has an opportunity to gain a clear understanding of:


• Project Urgency: Why these building upgrades are being proposed now.
• Proposed Solutions: How the plan addresses student safety, academic modernization, traffic patterns, and infrastructure challenges.
• Fiscal Impact: Clear information on estimated costs and anticipated benefits to students and the community at large.  
  

The Board of Education and leadership team are committed to transparency. By aligning our facilities with a focus on career purpose and skill alignment—we are ensuring that Lake Park remains a destination District for families and a launchpad for student success. The Task Force ensures that we are not planning in a vacuum, but rather matching our educational vision with the community's values to ensure a Lake Park diploma continues to bring immense value to our graduates and the community at large.

Student-Athlete Recognition Events

IHSA state sendoffs and National Letter of Intent signing celebrates Lancers.

Congratulations and good luck to the following members of the Lake Park Girls Gymnastics team who will compete this weekend at the IHSA Gymnastics State Finals at Palatine High School: Annabella Suchan (09) Vault, All Around, Floor, Uneven Bars; Cristina Benza (12) Uneven Bars, Vault; Elena Heath (12) Balance Beam; and Brooke Enright (12) Floor Exercise, Vault. These Lancers qualified from the Sectional Championships on February 11, where they brought home the program’s first-ever IHSA Sectional Team Championship. This victory marks State Team #6 in program history and the first time the team will advance as ranked qualifiers. This title continues an incredible post-season run that also includes DuKane Conference and IHSA Regional championships.

The Girls Gymnastics Team is led by Head Coach and Lancer for Life Jake Luketin, Assistant Coach and Lancer for Life Rachel Fischer, and Assistant Coach Bailey Bloom.

Congratulations to IHSA State Qualifying wrestler Nicky Merola (12), who began his postseason run yesterday, Thursday, February 19, at the State Farm Center in Champaign.

Competing at 144 pounds, Nicky fought through a loaded field at the Conant Sectional to earn his third career trip to State. Merola has enjoyed an incredible senior campaign, compiling an overall match record of 37 wins and only 3 defeats, while picking up a DuKane Conference title along the way.

The quest for the podium began yesterday, Thursday, February 19, at the University of Illinois State Farm Center. IHSA State Wrestling Competition continues through the weekend, with Merola aiming for the Saturday medal rounds.

The Lancers Wrestling program is coached by Head Coach Mark Cameron, and Assistant Coaches Frank Matas, Cody Pych, Pete Willis, and Lancer for Life Luke Badger.

Congratulations and best wishes next year to 13 Lancer student-athletes who participated in National Letter of Intent signing day on Wednesday, February 11.


Lake Park students and their families attended a special recognition ceremony that included coaches sharing highlights of their individual accomplishments and the students signing an official commitment to compete in collegiate athletics.

Upcoming Music Concerts

Choral ensembles to perform on February 24.

Join us for the Lake Park Choral Program's Winter Choral Concert on Tuesday, February 24, at 7:00 p.m. in the West Campus auditorium. Admission is free. Students from all five choral ensembles will showcase a diverse selection of music, including gospel, spirituals, folk songs, contemporary choral works, and vocal jazz. Each choir will perform individually and in combined groups, and the evening will conclude with two exciting finale pieces featuring all the choirs together.

On Thursday, March 5 at 7:00 p.m. in the West Campus auditorium, the LPHS Band Program will present its annual Spring Concert featuring the Freshman Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Symphony. Program highlights include works by Nishimura, Saucedo, King, Sparke, Bridge, Yagisawa, Wager, and Copley. The concert will last approximately 50 minutes, and post-concert snacks will be served in the cafeteria following the performance. Join again on Friday, March 6 for the LPHS Spring Jazz Concert featuring the Jazz Ensemble. Enjoy an evening of high-energy charts and outstanding student soloists.

Predict the 98th Academy Award Winners

Enter the Film Appreciation Society's Oscar Contest by March 15.

Calling all film fanatics! The Lake Park Film Appreciation Society is excited to announce its annual Oscar Contest. Cast your predictions for the Academy Award winners in eight categories, as announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at the 98th Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday, March 15.

This year’s contest focuses on eight major categories: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Animated Feature Film, and Film Editing. The entry with the highest number of accurate guesses will win—it’s that simple! Access the online entry form for official rules. Ballots must be submitted by 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 15. The winner will be announced by Tuesday, March 17.

To get in the cinematic spirit before the big night, join us for the next free screening on Wednesday, March 11 at 6:00 p.m. Highlighting the golden age of Ealing Comedies and showing the 1955 classic The Ladykillers, this free screening will be hosted in the West Campus auditorium

Prom Tickets on Sale

Purchase discounted tickets through March 26.


Lake Park’s Junior/Senior Golden Glitz Prom will be hosted at The Cotillion in Palatine on Saturday, May 2 from 5:30 to 10:00 p.m.

Similar to previous years, prom tickets are available for online purchase with a credit/debit card through Tuesday, April 21. Students are encouraged to purchase tickets early for a discounted price through Thursday, March 26. To purchase tickets with cash or a check made out to Lake Park High School, students should visit the Activities Office at West Campus during the school day. Students planning to bring a non-LP Guest (including 2025 graduates) should complete this form and return it to the Activities Office at West Campus prior to April 21. Guest tickets can be purchased online or with cash/check after the completed guest form has been submitted.

Reminder that students will select their table choices when they purchase their tickets. Visit the prom website page for more information about ticket sales, guest registration, and dress guidelines, or contact the sponsors at lpprom@lphs.org with any questions.

Scholarship Applications Due March 6

Lake Park Educational Foundation to award scholarships totaling $68,500.

Did you know that the Lake Park Educational Foundation is awarding 43 scholarships worth $68,500, and Lake Park High School students are the only students eligible? 

Graduating students in the Lancer Class of 2026 are reminded that Friday, March 6, is the last day to submit applications for consideration. The LPEF scholarships have varied criteria based on activities, athletics, academics, career-focus, financial need, and more. There are scholarships available to attend accredited trade schools, technical institutes, community colleges, and four-year colleges/universities.

Students must log in to their Going Merry account to submit applications electronically. If your student has started a submission but has not yet completed it, please remind them of this important and upcoming deadline. Because some of the specialized scholarships have very few responses, the odds of selection increase! Reiterate the importance of submitting an application, even if the criteria is not a perfect match. The scholarship donors can only select recipients from those students who submit a completed application.