The District 200 Board of Education deserves our gratitude for its thoughtful, collaborative approach to addressing OPRF’s facility needs and its commitment to responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. As a member of the OPRF High School Facilities Committee, I have seen firsthand how consistently the board, administration, and facilities team center students in every decision. I have also witnessed the care, transparency, and diligence that have shaped this process.
Over the past six years, we have made significant investments in our school facilities. We have renovated or added more than 80 classrooms and labs, built a Student Resource Center that did not previously exist, and reimagined our physical education spaces. These projects were not simply about bricks and mortar; they were about creating environments that support learning, foster belonging, and promote the well-being of every student who walks through our doors. They were investments in students.
It is now time to make a similar investment in our performing arts programs.
In December 2021, I attended my first Prisms of Winter concert. My daughter, then a member of Ms. McGuire’s choir and now a 2025 graduate, was performing. I had no idea what I was about to experience. The finale brought together hundreds of students from choir, band, orchestra, and extracurricular groups. The auditorium filled with musicians and singers, and the entire space seemed to vibrate with talent, energy, and joy. It was one of the most moving experiences I have had as a parent in this community.
That evening made clear to me the extraordinary value of OPRF’s performing arts programs — not only for participating students, but for the entire community. What surprised me was learning that these exceptional programs operate in facilities that are undersized, overcrowded, not fully accessible, and do not meet modern sound and safety standards. In many ways, their success reflects what they have achieved despite these limitations.
Participation in performing arts has grown significantly since these spaces were designed, and our facilities have not kept pace. Just imagine what these students and educators could accomplish in spaces designed for today’s needs.
We can and should have thoughtful conversations about cost, priorities, and financing while recognizing that fiscal responsibility and investing in students are not competing values.
At OPRF, we often speak of “Those Things That Are Best.” Providing performing arts students with facilities that match the excellence of their programs is one of them. I hope we continue this conversation with respect, collaboration, and a shared commitment to what is best for current and future students.
Alison Welch
Oak Park resident and OPRF parent