A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Friday to mark the completion of the new Forrestal Elementary School in North Chicago, a modern facility set to open for the 2026-27 school year. The newly constructed school will allow third graders from Forrestal to continue their education through fourth and fifth grades on-site, replacing the longstanding practice of sending them to A.J. Katzenmaier Academy for those grades.

Currently, Forrestal serves 367 students, about 30% of whom come from military families, given the school’s location within the Naval Station Great Lakes. With the addition of 55 fourth graders in August, enrollment is expected to rise to approximately 420 students, with a further increase anticipated when fifth graders are added the following year.

Principal Cara Kranz, who joined Forrestal in the 2021-22 academic year after a 24-year tenure with Chicago Public Schools, expressed enthusiasm about the new building’s potential to enhance teaching and learning environments. She emphasized the advantage of updated facilities in extending educational opportunities for students.

The new three-story structure features several notable amenities. Upon entry, visitors encounter the library, described by North Chicago School District 187 Superintendent John Price as the “heart of the school.” Each kindergarten classroom is equipped with its own bathroom and access to a dedicated, enclosed playground for safety. Additionally, each floor includes a sensory room designed to help students regulate sensory input. Classrooms also incorporate “book nooks” intended to foster a quiet space for reading, reflecting the school’s focus on cultivating a passion for literacy.

Sustainability measures are integral to the building’s design. Solar panels on the roof generate enough energy to meet the school’s entire power needs, creating a net-zero energy building. Price noted that the energy savings could exceed $1 million over the school’s lifespan.

The replacement of the previous school building addresses long-standing infrastructure concerns, including lead-contaminated drinking fountains, peeling paint, and other maintenance issues. Demolition of the original Forrestal building is scheduled to begin on June 10 and continue through October.

Federal support was crucial in securing funding for the project. The Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation allocated $57 million for the new school following an inspection of the old facility by Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, who committed to assisting after observing its deteriorated condition. The school district was required to contribute $20 million toward construction costs.

To expedite the project and retain federal funds, state legislators, including Senator Adriane Johnson, advanced legislation waiving the need for a referendum on the funding. Johnson underscored the importance of equitable educational opportunities, stating that North Chicago students “deserve the best school” and that such actions help “level the playing field.”

State and local officials, educators, students, and community members gathered to celebrate the completion of the new Forrestal Elementary, signaling a significant milestone for the district and the families it serves.