Lake County Gazette

Westminster Public Schools (WPS) has announced plans for a new PK–8 campus, which will open in the fall of 2028. The $40 million project aims to combine John E. Flynn A Marzano Academy with Shaw Heights Middle School into a single CTE-STEM campus.

Construction is set to begin next year. During this period, students and staff from Flynn will temporarily move into the Shaw building, which has already been renovated to accommodate more students and programs. Fifth grade students from Harris Park Elementary and Mesa Elementary will also join the new campus.

“This is a really exciting project for our community, a game-changer for our students as we prepare them for the future,” said Superintendent Jeni Gotto. “Families have consistently told us that they prefer a PK-8 model, and because of the proximity of these two buildings, we can build one unified campus that offers state-of-the-art facilities and expanded programming to meet the needs of every student.”

The Flynn building will be completely reconstructed over the next two years. Planned improvements include high-tech classrooms designed for collaboration and innovation, a regulation-size gymnasium, an outdoor learning complex, and a new pedestrian pathway connecting Flynn to Shaw.

On November 3, district leaders met with staff from both schools to discuss the plan. Letters were later sent to families with information about the project and links to architectural renderings and frequently asked questions.

Gotto emphasized transparency throughout the process: “Any time there is a change of this magnitude, there is a great deal of excitement and, for some, a certain amount of anxiety,” Gotto said. “We have a great plan in place to walk our families through this transition and I assured our staff that while the new campus may necessitate some personnel changes, everyone still has a home in Westminster Public Schools.”

Family feedback meetings are scheduled for November. An open house at Shaw Heights Middle School is planned for January 15. The district’s website provides additional resources including forms for questions or comments.

In December, WPS Board of Education will approve a new name for the campus as part of plans to retire both Flynn and Shaw buildings. Events are also being organized to honor both schools’ histories.

The Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 serves Lake County with multiple elementary and middle schools under its jurisdiction (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). The district’s student population includes 79.5 percent Hispanic students according to ISBE data (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). Teacher demographics show that 71 percent are women; none have more than ten absences per school year (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). In 2020, spending per student was $23,429 (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).