The Weekly Update #4
December 19, 2024
Dr. Corey Tafoya, Superintendent, Districts 75 and 120
As I reflect on my first four months as your superintendent, I realize how fortunate I am to be working with such a dedicated staff, supportive families, and outstanding students. I appreciate the warm welcome I received from this wonderful community. As advertised during my interview process, Mundelein is a truly remarkable community.
Looking back on the first few months of school, I see pride in every aspect of Mundelein High School. People here give all they have to their school community, whether it’s parents volunteering, teachers going the extra mile, or students striving for excellence in academics and extracurricular activities. Their pride in MHS is well-deserved. And, we’re just getting started!
We’re proud to report on our success on the State Report Card, released in October by the Illinois State Board of Education. Look in this newsletter for the link to a letter from Principal Alex Taylor and to the State Report Card.
Over the last several months, we’ve begun a construction project at the high school that will improve future opportunities for our students and benefit our entire community. That project is off to a great start, on schedule and under budget.
Because of that project, the D120 School Board made significant changes to the school calendar for the next two years. It’ll take some coordination and patience as we get into the heaviest portion of the construction next summer. But it’s going to be worth the effort.
I urge you to take a look at the stories in this newsletter, as we provide updates on construction, detail the School Board’s work, and explain why the Board has once again received the Governance Recognition award. And don’t forget to check out our new podcast, with episodes featuring our new MHS Theater Director, Maddie Martorana, and one of our exceptional students, Yael Pikus.
I appreciate your support as we work together to keep this momentum going. You’ve given me such a warm welcome to your school community, and I am reminded every day how fortunate I am to serve the District 120 community. Go Mustangs!
MHS reports a solid start to construction project
Nearly eight months into its facilities improvement project, Mundelein High School is on schedule and under budget.
And while the first portion of phase I - renovation of the MHS Annex - is complete, the overall project still has a long way to go with the heaviest work scheduled for the summer of 2026. Currently, workers are building eight new classrooms on the school’s west side, adding a storm water detention system to the south end of the building, and grading land for athletic fields at Village Green.
“We’re very happy with our progress at this point,” said Dr. Corey Tafoya, Superintendent of Districts 75 and 120. “It’s very exciting to see the project taking shape. But we know we have a long way to go.”
D120 Transition Center building named in honor of former superintendent
The Mundelein District 120 community celebrated the first completed project of its Facilities Improvement Plan on Sept. 10 with a ceremonial ribbon cutting ceremony in the newly named “Myers Education Center.”
The building, which recently became the new home of the D120 Transition Center, honors former District 120 Superintendent Kevin Myers who retired in June after serving Mundelein schools for 11 years. Located just west of Mundelein High School, the building was originally the Kirk of the Lakes Church before District 120 purchased it and used it as the MHS Annex.
The D120 School Board approved the building’s renaming on Sept. 9, one night before the Transition Center’s Grand Opening.
Board of Education adjusts school calendar during high school construction
In an effort to allow for construction at Mundelein High School to proceed as effectively as possible, the District 120 School Board on Aug. 12 adjusted the school year calendar for the next two years.
Next year’s school calendar will run from Sept. 8, 2026 to June 10, 2027. The following year, it will run from Sept. 7, 2027 to June 9, 2028. The changes will allow for a 15-week summer in 2026 followed by a 13-week summer in 2027. A typical summer in District 120 is 11 weeks long.
“MHS will maintain the same number of instructional days,” said Dr. Corey Tafoya, Superintendent of Mundelein School Districts 120 and 75. “But we needed to extend the next two summers to allow our construction team to perform the heaviest work during a time when the students are not on campus. This change will not only keep our construction on schedule, but help it to be completed as safely as possible.”
D75's new video podcast: "Lights, Camera, Mustangs!"
Have you seen our video conversation with new MHS Theater Director Martorana, or another featuring MHS senior Yael Pikus? They are some of the first in a new series of video podcasts we’re creating to help you get a closer look at the people and stories that make D120 special. Stay tuned for more episodes as we continue to share what’s happening behind the scenes in our school community.
D120 Board earns governance recognition honor
The District 120 School Board once again earned state recognition for their effective governance behaviors, the Illinois Association of School Boards announced.
The Board was one of 42 Illinois school districts honored with the School Board Governance Recognition. It recognizes the Board’s effective governance behaviors and their commitment toward obtaining the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively govern the district.
Boards of education that meet the necessary requirements are recognized for the two-year honorary distinction. District 120 has received it every two years since 2017.
Board News & Notes
The District 120 Board of Education values communication and transparency. We will be publishing “District 120 News & Notes” after our regular Board of Education meetings and if/as other opportunities arise in order to keep our community informed and connected. News & Notes will focus on actions taken and highlights from administration presentations.
Student Recognition
The School Board recognized MHS seniors Liam O’Neill and Paige Prochnow for receiving perfect composite scores of 36 on the ACT test last April. They were each presented with a Mundelein High School medallion by Superintendent Corey Tafoya.
Modifications to MHS Course Guide - Board Approved
The Board approved updates to the MHS Course Guide to ensure it is accurate and aligned with District 120 goals. The changes include two new courses, Walking for Fitness and Technical Design and Drafting 2. The Introduction to Engineering class was modified by removing the dual credit option.
Mundelein High School Shines in State Report Card
We're excited to share some positive news about our school based on information from the Illinois Report Card.
The Illinois Report Card is an annual report released by the Illinois State Board of Education showing how the state, each school district and each school is progressing on a wide range of educational goals.
While the Report Card offers a complete picture of school performance, MHS Principal Alex Taylor shared what this information means for Mundelein High School, the steps we've taken to improve our scores, and the success we've seen in our school.
Read more about Mundelein High School's State Report Card here:
Mundelein High School once again recognized among the nation's best
Year after year, Mundelein High School continues to build on its success in academic proficiency, college readiness and graduation rate. It hasn’t gone unnoticed.
U.S. News & World Report once again has ranked MHS among the best high schools in the nation. It is the seventh consecutive year Mundelein has received the recognition.
“This is a tremendous accomplishment for both our teaching staff and our students,” said District 120 Superintendent Corey Tafoya. “It’s not a surprise to anyone here that we’re being recognized again. But it’s a testament to the people in our building that we continue to improve year after year.”
Friday, Nov. 14 - Late Start (Classes begin at 9:40 a.m.)
Tuesday, Nov.11 - District 120 School Board meeting, 6 p.m.
Wednesday-Friday, Nov. 26-28 - No School (Thanksgiving Holiday)
Friday Dec. 5 - Late Start (Classes begin at 9:40 a.m.)
Wednesday-Thursday, Dec. 17-18 - Semester 1 Final Exams
Monday, Dec. 22 - Winter Break begins
Monday, Jan. 6 - Classes resume
* See our website for details on these and other important dates
