Board of School Inspectors Join Gompers Students
Joliet Public Schools District 86 hosted two groundbreaking ceremonies on Thursday, Sept. 12 to mark the start of construction on two junior high schools – the new Gompers Junior High School and the new Hufford Junior High School These will be the first new schools the grade school district has built since Isaac Singleton Elementary School opened in 2011.
Serving the east and west sides of Joliet, the new junior high schools will be built next to their respective old structures, which will be demolished after the modern facilities open in August 2026. The land where the old schools stood will be repurposed for additional parking and athletic fields.
The new schools are being funded by a $99.5 million bond decisively approved by a 2023 voter referéndum. The current schools are both over 66 years-old. The new schools promise a host of benefits for both staff and students, including larger classrooms and hallways, upgraded technology, improved ADA access, better safety and security, enhanced energy efficiency and more. Together, the two new schools will serve approximately 1,800 students.
The new 171,000-square-foot Hufford Junior High School will be built off of Ingalls Avenue west of Larkin Avenue. The new school will be approximately 33% larger than the current Hufford Junior High. Gompers Junior High School will be 142,700-square-feet facility roughly the same size as the current school.
“The construction of these two new schools would not have happened if it were not for our supportive community, school board, and referendum committee,” said Joliet Public Schools District 86 Superintendent Dr. Theresa Rouse, “Thank you for your commitment to provide our students with these new innovative buildings where they can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.”
“Today is an exciting time for Joliet, and most importantly, our students and the future of our community,” said Joliet Public Schools District 86 Board of School Inspectors President Elvis Madison, Jr., “We are building more than just two schools, we are creating state-of-the-art innovative facilities for our students, our future leaders, that will benefit generations for many years to come.”
GreenAssociates, Inc. (Itasca, Ill.) is the architect on the projects and Nicholas & Associates (Mt. Propsect, Ill.) is the construction management firm overseeing the construction.