District 135 Eyes Major Land Purchase Behind Meadow Ridge And Century Junior High

ORLAND PARK, IL — Orland School District 135 is considering a major land acquisition that could shape the future of education in the community for decades to come. During its May board meeting, administrators outlined a proposal to purchase approximately 32 acres of land currently owned by Consolidated High School District 230, located directly behind Meadow Ridge and Century Junior High.

The parcels, spread across three lots, are currently used for maintenance storage and house a former transition facility. Superintendent John Bryk and Director of Buildings and Grounds Ted Schultz presented a preliminary site plan that includes space for a new school, athletic fields, and expanded infrastructure to support long-term facility planning.

“This is a rare opportunity,” Bryk told the board. “Most of our schools are landlocked. This site could serve us 10, 20, even 30 years from now.”

The board expressed unanimous support to proceed with a joint appraisal alongside District 230 to determine the land’s fair market value and buildability. Some board members advocated making a conservative offer if the numbers align, pointing to the long-term value of owning land in a rapidly developing area.

Enrollment Projections: A Closer Look

Board members cited several nearby residential developments that could, over time, increase student enrollment. These include a 90-unit townhouse project adjacent to the property, approximately 180 homes approved near Costco, and speculative discussion about possible future development on the Andrew property along 153rd Street.

One estimate floated during the meeting suggested up to 2,250 new students might eventually enter the district. However, this figure is based on highly optimistic assumptions: that half of all new homes will house school-aged children and that each of those households will contribute an average of 1.5 students to District 135 schools.

A significant portion of this projection hinges on potential development of the former Andrew Corporation site—a 74-acre property that remains unsuitable for residential use. In 2008, contamination halted a housing development planned by Kimball Hill Homes. While the Illinois EPA approved it for commercial redevelopment in 2019, additional environmental cleanup would be required before homes could be built. As of now, the land is not approved nor ready for residential development, raising questions about how much of that enrollment estimate is realistically attributable.

Ironically, school districts have resisted the TIF proposals that would likely be necessary to mitigate the contamination challenges. In February 2025, Orland Park officials withdrew a TIF proposal after prolonged negotiations with Districts 135 and 230 failed to reach an agreement. The village had offered financial incentives, including annual payments and investments in district facilities, contingent upon the districts’ support for a 12-year TIF extension for the Andrew site. The districts’ reluctance to endorse the TIF has contributed to delays in addressing the site’s environmental issues.

Additionally, the newly elected mayor and his slate opposed the use of TIFs. Coincidentally, his wife served as D135 Board President when the district rejected TIF proposals for the Andrew site - which is now being used to justify land banking, despite the district's prior role in delaying its development.

Even if a new development did occur there, most suburban school districts use far more conservative planning ratios when estimating how many students a new residential development will yield. Rather than assuming every other household will produce multiple children, districts typically expect:

• 0.3 to 0.5 K–8 students per single-family home, and
• 0.1 to 0.2 students per unit for townhomes, condos, or apartments.

Based on those norms, even a 1,500-home development would typically yield between 450 and 750 new K–8 students — not 2,250. The larger estimate cited in the meeting exceeds standard projections by a wide margin and may inflate expectations for future capacity needs.

Lastly, District 135’s enrollment has remained flat for over 20 years, despite steady residential growth throughout the area. Combined with the district’s recent $17 million investment in building expansions, the need for additional land is not immediately evident.

What the Site Could Include

A conceptual layout presented during the meeting included:

• A new school footprint substantially larger than Meadow Ridge
• A synthetic turf field to support junior high athletics and community use
• Shared infrastructure potential with existing campuses like Century and Meadow Ridge

District leaders suggested the site could be part of a long-term campus plan, allowing for greater flexibility and operational efficiency in the future.

Financial Questions and What It Means for Taxpayers

As of the May meeting, district officials had not specified how the purchase would be financed. While no referendum or tax increase has been proposed, the lack of detail raises questions about whether existing reserves would be used or if future borrowing might be required.

During the discussion, someone suggested making a “lowball offer” after the joint appraisal, underscoring a desire to approach the deal conservatively and minimize cost to the district. Still, without clear financial documentation or public budget discussion, residents may remain uncertain about the fiscal impact.

A Defensive Move?

Supporters of the acquisition have described it as a defensive strategy—a way to secure valuable land while it’s still available, rather than risk it being sold to a private developer or government entity in the future. While the land may not be needed now, board members argued that it could be prohibitively expensive—or entirely unavailable—if the district waits until need becomes urgent.

Bryk summarized this logic:

“It’s always better to have land when you don’t need it than to need land and have nowhere to go.”

Next Steps

The board has authorized a joint appraisal with District 230. Results are expected by June or July, at which point a formal purchase decision could follow.

As planning continues, community members may press for more transparency around financing, long-term facilities strategy, and whether this move aligns with the district’s actual future needs.