Lake County Gazette

The Mundelein School District 120 community will mark the completion of the first phase of its high school facilities improvement project with a grand opening for the District 120 Transition Center on September 10. The Transition Center, previously housed at the north end of Mundelein High School, has relocated to the renovated MHS Annex building, which was formerly Kirk of the Lakes Church.

Renovating the new space was part of Phase One in the $199.5 million Mundelein High School Facilities Improvement Project. This marks the initial completion within a larger effort that began in March 2025 and is expected to continue for at least three years. Funding comes primarily from a $149.5 million building bond referendum approved by voters in November 2024. The broader plan includes constructing new classrooms, a gymnasium, cafeteria, and Career Technical Education spaces.

Dr. Corey Tafoya, Superintendent of Districts 120 and 75 in Mundelein, said, “It’s wonderful to see our Transition Center move into a space they sorely needed. But on a larger scale, it’s especially exciting to see part of our long-term facilities project come to fruition. It’s the first of many improvements coming to the District 120 community over the next few years, and we’re off to a great start.”

The renovation prioritized relocating the Transition Center so that further upgrades could begin at its previous location inside Mundelein High School.

Earlier this year, district staff moved from the former MHS Annex into new offices at 470 N. Lake Street—space now shared by both Districts 75 and 120—and the Mundelein Welcome Center temporarily relocated to Carl Sandburg Middle School’s South Building at 330 N. Ridgemoor Avenue. The Welcome Center plans to return to its updated space within the Transition Center building in September.

Transition Center staff helped design their new facility—a 16,100-square-foot area equipped with updated fire suppression systems as well as mechanical and electrical systems meeting current school codes.

Serving participants aged 18-22, the Transition Center supports independent living skills through community engagement and personalized planning as students move toward post-school activities.

The grand opening event is scheduled from 5-7 p.m., with a ribbon-cutting ceremony set for 6 p.m., at its new address: 1500 W. Hawley Street.

Mundelein Consolidated High School District 120 represents Lake County (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/) and includes Mundelein Consolidated High School among its institutions (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). According to state data (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/), there are approximately 130 teachers employed by District 120 earning an average salary of $91,610; about half are women and half are men; none had more than ten absences during a school year (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). Student demographics show that roughly forty-one percent identify as White, forty-five percent as Hispanic, six percent as Asian, and two percent as Black (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). In fiscal year 2020, spending per student reached nearly $29,800 for total expenditures exceeding $61 million (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).