Parents Care, a parent advocacy group, is questioning Lake Forest High School District 115’s renovation spending after reporting projected costs of $117.5 million—about $11.8 million above the original bond proceeds. Its report says the district’s current $118.7 million funding plan includes approximately $13 million in projected investment earnings.
The report, prepared by Philippe Melin and published Nov. 12, also stated the referendum passed by just 120 votes.
What voters approved
District 115 sold $105.7 million in general obligation bonds after voters in Lake Forest, Lake Bluff and Knollwood approved the measure during the April 4, 2023, election, according to the district's referendum website. The bond proceeds were designated for capital facility needs at Lake Forest High School, including roofing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, lighting, masonry, fire protection, security systems, labs, classrooms and ADA accessibility improvements, among other work.
The Parents Care report cited a Board of Education statement saying the board was focused on the high school's highest priority facility needs and nothing more.
Parents Care's claims
The report alleged that Superintendent Matt Montgomery's administration expanded the project after the vote and now describes it as "under budget." The group contended the district calls it under budget because it compares projected spending against a current project budget of $118.7 million, not the original $105.7 million bond amount.
The district's own finance team cited "added project scope" as one reason bids came in higher, according to the report.
Parents Care also reported that the cost estimate for one construction round jumped from about $30 million to $53 million over five to six months. The district then had to cut work, the report stated.
Montgomery blamed some higher construction costs on competition for workers from a Grayslake data center, according to the report. Parents Care noted that project was already under construction before District 115 set its November 2025 estimate.
The group also identified architectural fees it said were tied to work the district has shelved and asked how much the district has paid for designs it may not use.
