Glendale Heights students returning to Glenside Middle School this fall will walk into a brand-new STEM lab, a remodeled learning materials center and a remodeled auxiliary gymnasium with locker rooms, the latest products of a three-year renovation push that had construction crews on site six and seven days a week all summer.
Superintendent Joseph R. Williams announced the completed projects in an Aug. 13 welcome-back letter to Queen Bee School District 16 families. The upgrades are part of the district's "Renew The Raider" initiative, which over the past three years has also delivered remodeled band and choral music rooms, a new main gymnasium, a renovated cafeteria and a commercial production kitchen.
Two more projects are on track for December: an ADA-accessible elevator and a third physical education space that will serve as a cardio lab. A final phase of exterior work, including the main parking lot and student circulation area, is planned for summer 2027 to complete the initiative.
Fresh meals, new vendor
The production kitchen built during earlier phases made possible a new food service contract. Aramark won a competitive bid in late spring and will prepare all meals on-site at Glenside, serving them fresh to students there and at satellite kitchens in each of the district's elementary schools.
"All menu items will be prepared on site at Glenside and served fresh," Williams wrote. Families can set up lunch accounts through the Meal Time platform.
Aramark is actively hiring cooks and food service workers for the district at $15 to $18 per hour, according to job postings on Glassdoor.
Leadership shuffle at Glen Hill
Williams also announced three personnel moves:
- Jennifer Jonas has been promoted to assistant director of special education and director of the early childhood and Pre-K program at Queen Bee School.
- Stephanie Scherer, previously Glen Hill Elementary's assistant principal, is now the school's principal.
- Laura Gruenwald, a career Queen Bee educator with a special education background, joins Glen Hill as assistant principal.
The promotions come as the district navigates a superintendent transition. The Queen Bee 16 board approved a retirement agreement and contract amendment for Williams on Aug. 10, just days before the welcome-back letter was issued.
Williams did not address his departure in the letter. The district has not publicly announced a timeline for naming his successor.
The next step families should watch: the December completion target for the elevator and cardio lab, followed by the summer 2027 parking lot and exterior work that will wrap up Renew The Raider.
