With the school year kicking off next week, North Shore School District 112 celebrated a ribbon-cutting for the newly renovated Sherwood Elementary School, a “peak moment” for the district’s new superintendent and a major step in a massive, district-wide renovation project.
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While the celebrations had to be taken indoors due to rain and speeches were intermingled with thunder, the school’s new gymnasium was packed with smiling families, students and area school officials on Thursday afternoon.
Construction on Sherwood began in February 2025, according to the district website, with students and staff relocated to the former Elm Place Middle School.
District staff emphasized its modern features and design, including plenty of natural light, an open-concept library at the school’s center, a brand-new gym, total ADA compliance, an art room and classrooms, and a new commercial kitchen for the district’s expanded meal program, among other new features.
Similar to Ravinia Elementary School, which reopened last year, Sherwood includes a geothermal heating and cooling system.
District Superintendent Monica Schroeder noted the various technologies and advancements at the school, including even the lights — the days of bright, buzzing overhead lights are over, with lights that can be dimmed.
And outside is the new “universal playground,” including designs inspired by input from Sherwood students, with a focus on accessibility for children of all abilities.
The less playful changes include traffic and pedestrian flow improvements, as well as enhanced safety and security features — the referendum was passed months after the 2022 Highland Park July 4 parade shooting, galvanizing calls for increased security.
Schroeder, who became superintendent earlier this year after decades with the district, called it a “peak moment” for her. She praised the district’s community as she stood in front of the crowd Thursday.
“It really warms my heart to be able to experience this with our students, the staff and community after so many years,” she said.
Sherwood is one of five schools included in the 2022 $114 million referendum, which passed with overwhelming support six years after a previous referendum was voted down.
“It was our community who voted for the referendum, and we’re just really grateful for them to be able to arrive for all of our students,” Schroeder said.
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Work on Indian Trail and Ravinia elementary schools has already been completed, with the district celebrating Ravinia’s reopening last year after a $40 million gut rehab that transformed a more-than-century-old building with cutting-edge technologies.
The district broke ground on Wayne Thomas Elementary School a few weeks ago, Schroeder said, and it will be under construction for the next 18 months. Braeside Elementary School is under construction, and she anticipates a ribbon-cutting this spring. After that, district officials will break ground on Oak Terrace as well, beginning renovations on the building.
“It’s wonderful as a new superintendent to have so many projects and great things happening here in District 112,” Schroeder said.