District 128 Summer School has seven bus routes this year covering Libertyville and Vernon Hills.

Please note the start time is the only time listed. We ask that for the first few days, students get out to their stop early until the bus drivers establish their “timing” on the route.

Buses will be leaving VHHS at 12:55 and dropping off in reverse order of pick up.

Senior party is still looking for donations.  If you are not able to help with planning, decorating or chaperoning the party, maybe you could help with a small CASH donation.  Food or raffle donations would be gladly accepted too.   If you are able to help, please contact Laurie Manso at 847-602-8056.  Thank you for your support and helping make this a memorable event for our seniors!! 

Pesticide / Herbicide Youth Notification

Per Illinois state law, this notice is to advise any and all concerned Cougar families of the application of weed control product around the Vernon Hills High School building.

This application will occur on Sunday, May 13, 2012 on the Athletic Fields and surrounding the Vernon Hills High School building.

Please be aware of the use of chemicals during this time period and take appropriate caution if you will be impacted.

If you have any questions, please contact the Building and Grounds Director, at (847) 932-2045.

At a special meeting on Thursday, April 5, the Community High School District 128 Board of Education voted 4 – 0 to award the construction contract for the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) required Vernon Hills High School (VHHS) swimming pool compliance plan repairs to Continental Construction Company of Evanston, IL.  Continental submitted a total bid of $41,600 for the required repairs.  The other company bidding for the repair work submitted a $66,000 bid.

Continental will begin work on the VHHS swimming pool as soon as all required components and equipment are received from suppliers.  District 128 officials estimate that the repairs should take approximately 10 days to complete.  District 128 Superintendent Dr. Prentiss Lea stated that the Board and administration are “ecstatic to take the next forward step toward IDPH swimming pool compliance at Vernon Hills High School.”  In addition, Board President Pat Groody noted that the Board “was pleased with the amount of the winning bid.”  And, Dr. Lea once again praised and thanked the IDPH engineering staff for its diligent work with the District 128 engineering team to gain plan approval and move toward compliance.

District 128 Finance Assistant Jess Porres, Director of Building and Grounds Joe Tomaselli, LHS Athletic Director Briant Kelly, and VHHS Athletic Director Brian McDonald will work with the District 128 swim staff and community to facilitate and coordinate pool use during the construction process.

At the April 9 Community High School District 128 Board of Education Program and Personnel Committee meeting, District 128 Superintendent Dr. Prentiss Lea announced that the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has formally approved the Libertyville High School (LHS) Swimming Pool Compliance Plan.

To move the LHS compliance plan forward as required, the LHS bid specifications will be posted in the local newspaper no later than Thursday, April 12, for 10 calendar days, which will end on Saturday, April 21. Bids will be opened on Monday, April 23, and dependent upon the results of bidding contractor vetting, the Board of Education will award the LHS construction contract at its regular meeting that evening. Once the contract is awarded, construction is expected to begin as soon as required compliance work is completed on the Vernon Hills High School pool, and should take 30 days or less to complete. Inspection and approval of the construction work and final occupancy permitting will follow completion of construction.

District 128 Finance Assistant Jess Porres, Director of Building and Grounds Joe Tomaselli, LHS Athletic Director Briant Kelly, VHHS Athletic Director Brian McDonald, and LHS Assistant Athletic Director John Fischl, will work with the District 128 physical education staff, swim staff and community user groups to facilitate and coordinate district pool use during the construction process.

Superintendent Lea again expressed sincere thanks to the Illinois Department of Public Health and Lead Pool Engineer, Craig Steinheimer, and Head Engineer, Justin DeWitt, for their work with the district to gain swimming pool compliance.  “We continue to be appreciative of the efforts of the IDPH team in communicating with us, reviewing our compliance plans, and providing timely feedback essential in meeting IDPH approval requirements,” Lea said.

May 7 Update
LHS and VHHS Swimming Pool Compliance Repairs Begin
Construction contracts have been awarded, all necessary component parts have been ordered, and pre-construction demolition and electrical work have begun to bring the LHS and VHHS swimming pools into compliance.
LHS and VHHS pre-construction electrical upgrades, required as part of compliance, have already commenced.  LHS pool drainage began on Saturday, May 5 at 9:00 a.m., and pre-construction demolition work to execute the required repairs will begin on Monday, May 7. VHHS Pool drainage will begin on Wednesday, May 9 at 8:00 p.m., and pre-construction demolition work to execute the required repairs will begin on Friday, May 11. The LHS sump assembly and drain cover unit has been manufactured and will be delivered this week for installation following required pre-demolition work.  Barring unforeseen complications, LHS repairs are expected to take 5 – 7 days with IDPH inspection and approval to follow within 3 days. The VHHS circulation pump assembly and drain cover unit has been manufactured and will be delivered this week for installation following required pre-demolition work.  Barring unforeseen complications, VHHS repairs are expected to take 5 – 7 days with IDPH inspection and approval to follow within 3 days.
LHS Athletic Director Briant Kelly and VHHS Athletic Director Brian McDonald will continue to coordinate pool usage and shut down schedules with D128 coaches and CATS Aquatics officials.

May 14th Update

At the LHS swimming pool, all required pre-demolition work is complete, the sump pump assembly unit has been installed, and the concrete encasing the assembly unit was poured on Friday and hardened over the weekend. The final electrical work and assembly unit testing will occur in the next few days, with a tentative IDPH inspection scheduled for the end of this week.

At the VHHS swimming pool, all required pre-demolition work is complete, and the circulation pump assembly will be installed this week with concrete pouring to follow installation.  The final electrical work and assembly unit testing will occur toward the end of this week, with a tentative IDPH inspection scheduled for the beginning of next week.

LHS Athletic Director Briant Kelly and VHHS Athletic Director Brian McDonald will facilitate and coordinate pool re-entry efforts with District 128 swim staff, CATS Aquatics, and other pool user groups.

May 23 Update
VHHS Swimming Pool Passes IDPH Inspection
The VHHS swimming pool compliance repairs have passed IDPH inspection. In passing IDPH inspection, the VHHS pool has now met the requirements of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. Before reopening, the VHHS pool must be completely filled with water and required chemicals added and balanced, prior to required Lake County Department of Public Health annual inspection. The county inspection is scheduled for May 29.  Following successful completion of the county inspection, the VHHS pool will be available for use again.
As previously noted, the LHS swimming pool passed IDPH inspection on May 18, and the pool is scheduled for Lake County Department of Public Health annual inspection on May 24.  Following successful completion of the county inspection, the LHS pool will be available for use again.
LHS Athletic Director Briant Kelly and VHHS Athletic Director Brian McDonald will facilitate and coordinate pool re-entry efforts with District 128 swim staff, CATS Aquatics, and other pool user groups.

At the March 19 Community High School District 128 Board of Education meeting, the Board unanimously approved a 10-Year Inter-Governmental Agreement with the Vernon Hills Park District that has resulted in the Park District Board making a $100,000 contribution toward the Vernon Hills High School Project Turf fundraising campaign to replace the Rust-Oleum Stadium natural grass turf with synthetic turf.  District 128 Superintendent Dr. Prentiss Lea noted that Park District contribution was greatly appreciated by District 128 and VHHS and that the inter-governmental agreement was an excellent example of governmental bodies working together to maximize taxpayer dollars. 

Park District President Dave Doerhoefer stated, “Partnering with another local governmental body in sharing resources is always a win-win for our residents.” In exchange for the monetary contribution to the project, the Park District will have exclusive use of the stadium field for programming on 24 Sundays during the school year, and in addition, will have use of the stadium field for youth camp activities on four Fridays during the summer months.  Doerhoefer indicated that the park district plans to utilize the facility for adult football and soccer and other youth programs.

Chaired by Vernon Hills resident and VHHS Parent, Dennis Donelon, the Project Turf group has raised approximately $390,000 in donations from governmental bodies, businesses, school support groups, families and friends.  District 128 will contribute an additional $300,000 toward the project, which was the amount originally budgeted to replace and update the 10-year-old Stadium natural grass field and drainage.  The balance of Project Turf funding will come from lease revenue from a cell tower and three antennas located at VHHS.  Based on synthetic turf use patterns at Libertyville High School, it is estimated that when completed, the VHHS synthetic turf field will allow up to 1,000 separate uses of the field per year as opposed to the current 35 separate uses of the field per year.  In addition to football, lacrosse and soccer team contests, the synthetic field will allow daily use and practice by physical education classes, additional varsity and lower-level athletic contests and practices and other student activities.  

Following its vote on the agreement, the District 128 Board and President Dr. Pat Groody hailed this groundbreaking partnership, thanked the Park District Board, and specifically recognized Park District Board members and administrators in attendance, including: Dave Doerhoefer, President; Dave Ballowe, Vice-President; Bruce Robbins, Commissioner; and Jeff Fougerousse, Executive Director. 

Park District President Doerhoefer noted, “Establishing the inter-governmental agreement with D128 is great for the community at large, and use of the synthetic turf field will enable park district patrons of all ages to have access to a gem in our community.”  In addition, the District 128 Board recognized Project Turf Chairperson Dennis Donelon for his tireless efforts in coordinating and facilitating all fundraising work.  As Groody noted, “The project would not have possible without Dennis’ extraordinary contribution of time and talent, and we are indebted to his service to VHHS.”  The Board also recognized the outstanding work of VHHS Athletic Director Brian McDonald on the project.    

The Park District officials presented District 128 Board President Groody with a check for their $100,000 contribution.  District 128 Superintendent Dr. Prentiss Lea, lauded the work of the Park District Board and Executive Director, VHHS Principal Dr. Ellen Cwick and the District 128 Board on the agreement.  Lea stated, “The Vernon Hills Park District’s generous contribution to the VHHS Project Turf effort will ensure completion of the project, significantly broaden and increase district use of the field, and will also provide for a broad range of community access to and use of the field.  It was a pleasure to work with the Park District on the agreement.” 

VHHS Spirit store is having a clearance sale!