Illinois Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Crystal Lake South Bleacher Case

The Illinois Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case regarding a controversial set of bleachers at Crystal Lake South High School

An appellate court in September decided the 18-month-old bleachers should be subject to the city of Crystal Lake’s zoning ordinances. But District 155 continued to fight to keep its 48-foot high bleachers in place and district 155 officials on Wednesday confirmed the Illinois Supreme Court had agreed to hear the case.

“We are pleased and grateful that the Illinois Supreme Court is willing to hear this case because this question of law has never been decided before. We look forward to a definitive ruling from the state’s highest court on the important constitutional questions that are raised in this case,” said Community High School District 155 Board of Education President Ted Wagner in a press release Wednesday.

School officials have said the bleachers bring to light a bigger issue over who should be responsible for governing school construction and the outcome of that decision could affect other school districts, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Controversy over the $1.18 million bleachers began in the summer of 2012 when homeowners living on Amberwood Drive said they were never given advance notification about the project, or an opportunity to share their concerns or input.

The homeowners objected to the height and width of the new stands.

A stay of demolition on the bleachers will remain in place until the Supreme Court issues its final decision on the case, according to the news release.

The Arlington Heights-based law firm of Hodges, Loizzi, Eisenhammer, Rodick & Kohn LLP is providing legal services for the Supreme Court appeal on a pro-bono basis at no cost to the district.