Joliet District 86 Hosts Two School Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies

Joliet Public Schools District 86's Board of School Inspectors and administration officially celebrated the opening of the new Gompers Junior High School and the new Hufford Junior High School. These two junior high schools mark the school district's first new school construction since Isaac Singleton Elementary School opened in 2011.

Serving the east and west sides of Joliet, the new junior high schools were built adjacent to their respective former buildings, which will be demolished later this year to make way for new athletic fields and parking lots. The new schools will welcome students and staff next week for the start of the 2026-2027 school year. The first day of school for all Joliet District 86 students is Aug. 19, 2026. Together, the two new schools will serve approximately 1,750 students.

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The new schools were funded in part by a $99.5 million bond approved by Joliet voters in a 2023 referendum. The previous school buildings were both more than 69 years old. The new schools offer a host of benefits for students and staff, including larger classrooms and hallways, upgraded technology, improved ADA accessibility, increased safety and security, greater energy efficiency, and more. The new geothermal systems at the schools will lower energy costs and reduce carbon emissions while providing reliable, year-round classroom comfort. They will also improve indoor air quality through fresh ventilation and operate much more quietly than the previous heating and cooling units that were in the original schools.

The new 171,000-square-foot Hufford Junior High School is located off Ingalls Avenue west of Larkin Avenue. The school is approximately 33% larger than the former Hufford Junior High. Gompers Junior High School is 142,700-square-feet facility roughly the same size as the current school.

"The new schools are truly amazing," said Joliet Public Schools District 86 Superintendent Dr. Theresa Rouse, "They would not have been possible without the incredible support of our community, school board, and referendum committee."

"This week, we proudly celebrate the ribbon cuttings for the new Gompers and Hufford Junior High Schools. These state-of-the-art facilities are a true testament to what we can achieve when we come together as a community to invest in our youth," said Joliet Public Schools District 86 Board of School Inspectors President Matthew Pritz, "The Board is deeply committed to providing exceptional learning environments that will empower our dedicated staff, inspire our students today, and serve as strong cornerstones for our entire community for decades to come."

On hand celebrating the ribbon cutting ceremonies included Illinois State Representative Natalie Manley, Illinois State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel, Illinois State Senator Rachel Ventura, Will County Regional Superintendent of Education Dr. Lisa Caparelli-Ruff, City of Joliet Mayor Terry D'Arcy, Joliet City Council members and Cesar Cardenas and Pat Mudron, Joliet Public Schools District 86 Board of School Inspectors President Matthew Pritz, Vice President R. Emil Standfield, Jesse Smith, Sandra Aguirre, Naurice Moffett, Deborah Ziech and Andrew Smith, Gompers Junior High School Principal Chris Latting, Hufford Junior High School Principal Kyle Sartain, Citizens in Support of District 86 Referendum co-chairmen Tony Contos and J.D. Ross, representatives of the Will County Board and the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and administrators from Joliet Township High School District 204.

The construction projects of the new schools began with groundbreaking ceremonies in Sept. 2024. GreenAssociates, Inc. (Itasca, Ill.) served as the architect on the projects and Nicholas & Associates (Mt. Prospect, Ill.) the construction management firm overseeing the construction.