
A huge thank you to the D102 community for making this important work possible!
AJHS Gymnasium Construction Update
December 2024
AJHS Gymnasium Construction Update
February 2025
This summer, construction projects will take place at AJHS, PES, and TES.
The image below highlights the upcoming work, showcases projects completed last summer, and outlines what’s continuing throughout the 2024–2025 school year.


Information in Spanish – Información en español
Information in Tamil – தமிழில் தகவல்
Information in Hindi – हिंदी में जानकारी
Information in Telugu – తెలుగులో సమాచారం
Information in Russian – информация на русском

Ongoing Construction Updates (Summer 2025)
Check in here for updates on Construction progress this summer. Part 2 of our construction plan started on June 9, 2025 and will be underway all summer at Aptakisic, Tripp and Pritchett.
Summer 2025
Construction Photos
Tripp Playground Upgrades
Exciting news for the summer of 2025! The main Tripp School playground on the South side of the building is getting a major upgrade! The new design will feature ADA-accessible equipment, a safe and durable pour-and-play surface, and a 3-foot safety fence around the perimeter. The fence will help to keep balls from rolling into the parking lot while also supporting student safety during play. The walking path will shift South on the Tripp School land to create a barrier between the playground and the walking path. Students will be able to enjoy the playground throughout the school day, and it will be open to the community outside of school hours which offers a fun, inclusive space for all to enjoy!
The North side playground will be removed during the construction process and sod will be installed. There will be a reworking of the paths in this area.

LAND TRANSFER ENHANCES COMMUNITY COLLABORATION
August 2024: Last spring, we worked with the Buffalo Grove Park District to discuss a Land Transfer opportunity for Aptakisic Park, the field just South of Aptakisic Junior High. The D102 Board of Education established an agreement with the BG Park District that allowed us to acquire the land in exchange for their use of our new gymnasium at AJHS during after-school hours. We are thrilled to share that the Land Transfer with the BG Park District is complete! We are excited about our continued partnership with BG Park District and this great opportunity for the entire community to benefit from the new space.
November 2024: The Junior High property, including the admin office building, will be consolidated with the Aptakisic Park property to the south, creating one lot. The park property will be rezoned from R-9: Multi-Family Dwelling District to R-E Residential District to be consistent with the zoning of the school lot.
With the acquisition of Aptakisic Park, the D102 Board of Education approved a new parking lot for AJHS.

New Parking Lot at AJHS
The parking lot implements recommendations from the traffic study that was conducted during the school’s building addition projects in 2023. The parking lot was suggested as a way to alleviate circulation and safety concerns and allow for ample parking for school staff and overflow during high-volume school events.
The project will feature a perimeter drive aisle, serving as a designated lane for parent vehicles and thereby increasing vehicle queuing capacity. Parents will circulate the drive aisle under the supervision of crossing guards and signage. School buses will continue to operate in front of the school without blocking driveways or crosswalks.

D102 REFERENDUM LANGUAGE ON APRIL 4, 2023 BALLOT (PASSED)
Shall the Board of Education of Aptakisic-https://www.d102.org/build/notice-of-election-in-english-and-spanish/Tripp Community Consolidated School District Number 102, Lake County, Illinois, alter, repair, and equip the District’s school buildings and district office and improve the sites thereof, including installing safety and security upgrades, replacing boilers and heating/cooling systems to improve indoor air quality and temperature control, replacing roofs and windows, renovating instructional spaces, adding science classrooms, STEM labs, and a gymnasium to the junior high school and issue bonds of said School District to the amount of $49,000,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?
If you’d like to learn more about D102 and why we’re so proud of our district, view the D102 Pride slides.
Community Engagement September – November 2022

Presentations, Q & A, input sessions
September 22 at 7PM at Aptakisic Junior High School
September 24 at 10AM at Meridian Early Learning Center
September 28 at 7PM over zoom
October 11 at 8PM – post PTO meeting (in person and over zoom)
October 27 at Aptakisic Junior High School Community Safety Event
November 7 at 9AM at District Office
November 9 at 9AM over zoom
November 9 at 7PM at Vernon Area Public Library Pre Bilingual Parent Event
November 10 at AJHS at 6:30 p.m. Pre Orchestra Concert
November 15 at 8PM – post PTO meeting over zoom
November 16 at 1PM over zoom
November 21 and 22 Parent Teacher Conferences/video and survey link
Formal input opportunity
Community Engagement Survey (September – November) – 69 responses
Postcard mailed to D102 residents with invitation to complete a second survey (December) – 172 responses
