With the new school year starting soon, students in Indian Prairie School District 204 will return to classrooms that may look different from last spring. Extensive renovations are taking place thanks to a 2024 referendum that allowed the district to sell up to $420 million in bonds for a complete facility overhaul. The sale is funded by maintaining an existing 37-cent property tax scheduled to expire in 2026, keeping tax contributions stable.
Projects across district buildings will continue through 2032. Schools like Waubonsie Valley High School, Neuqua Valley High School, Metea Valley High School, the Birkett Freshman Center, and Gregory and Hill middle schools are seeing specific renovations. District-wide safety upgrades, LED lighting, and infrastructure projects are also in progress. Some work will be complete by the start of school, but others will continue after classes begin on Aug. 17.
District 204 Chief School Business Official Matt Shipley noted this summer marks the first major phase of referendum-funded construction. Significant work is expected this year and next. Waubonsie Valley is undergoing stadium, cafeteria, atrium, commons, and classroom renovations. Neuqua Valley additions will accommodate freshmen, ending their need to attend the separate Birkett Freshman Center. These projects use over half of the district’s bond funds.
Metea Valley is getting a secure entryway and track resurfacing. All district high schools will have turf fields, with Waubonsie adding a second field for various activities. The second field’s cost is partially offset by a usage agreement with Galaxy Soccer Club. The soccer field project will start in the fall and finish by spring.
Beyond the high schools, eleven district schools will receive new secure entryways this year. Six of these are middle schools. Last year saw upgrades for 11 schools’ entryways. The aim is to have a single secure entryway requiring visitors to interact with the main office first. Additional projects include flooring work, playgrounds, solar panels, and LED lighting.
Shipley highlighted that nearly every school in the district is undergoing upgrades this summer. Indian Prairie has spent around $59 million from January 2025 to June 2026. Another $100 million is planned through next summer. Most work is on or under budget, enabling acceleration of some projects.
While some work will not finish before classes begin, Shipley views this as a chance for unique student experiences. Students interned with construction teams and toured sites. Viewing areas at schools allow students to observe ongoing projects. Shipley describes the renovations as a rare opportunity for students to engage with these developments.
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