News Updates

Work continues on stage addition at Carl Sandburg

Posted June 17, 2025, 3:15 p.m.
Like most middle schools, Carl Sandburg Middle School hosts a musical each year. But unlike other schools, students perform the show at outside venues because they don’t have a stage of their own.

That will soon change now with construction of a new stage addition to Carl Sandburg.

The L-shaped addition on the school’s southeast side will expand what is currently the school’s south gym. It will include a handicapped accessible stage, dressing rooms and storage. The estimated capacity will be about 200, similar in size at Lincoln Early Learning Center, where the musical has sometimes been performed. The south gymnasium will serve as a seating area for performances.

“We’re extremely excited,” said Principal Andrew Vondran. “It’s something new and something that’s going to create excitement. It creates a space kids will want to be involved in. From performing to backstage crew, there will be lots of opportunities to get more students involved in both fine arts and performing arts.”

District 75 School Board Members were joined by Carl Sandburg Middle School staff, parents and students in April during a ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony. 

The project includes a new vestibule for the main school entrance with new technology enhancing safety and security and a place for students to sit before and after school. Flexible use is in play for the new addition. With no permanent seating, the room will continue to be used for the school’s Adaptive PE program and the addition will provide additional space for updated adaptive PE equipment. 

The new addition will have the acoustic qualities of a performance venue and, along with the stage and dressing rooms, provide a performing arts space for concerts, plays, musicals and much more. Currently, student performances such as concerts are held in a gymnasium or lunchroom without the benefit of a stage.

It will also provide a much-needed dedicated practice room for performing arts. The room could also be rented out for local performing arts companies and community events as needed.

The District 75 School Board in December awarded the bid of $7 million from Stuckey Construction of Waukegan to complete the work. Green Associates of Itasca designed the addition.