D58 Board Weighs Additional Life Safety Projects

The 48 additional life safety projects awaiting approval by the Grade School District 58 school board again pitted member Scott O'Connell against the rest of the board at its Nov. 8 meeting.

O'Connell said the projects should be deferred until current projects are completed by the end of summer 2011.

The debate centers on the disposition of $3.5 million in bond money which was left over after this year's life safety projects came in for less than originally projected. While O'Connell believes the district was wrong to issue more than it needed for the projects, other members believe the remaining money would best be used for projects such as a walkway at Belle Aire School, windows at Herrick Middle School windows and a curtain wall at O'Neill Middle School.

"I've seen the condition of a few of these schools," said member Gary Lester. "I'm wondering when one of our schools is going to fall down. It's our obligation to attend to these issues for our kids, for our schools, and for the community of Downers Grove."

Once the remaining life safety projects have been addressed, energy costs will be reduced, resulting in more savings, said Dr. James Popernik, district controller. School code allows for outstanding funds from the bond issue to be used "for other authorized fire prevention, safety, energy conservation and school security purposes," he said.

The board will vote Nov. 22 to submit amendments for $3.8 million worth of additional projects under the assumption those projects, too, will come in under budget. Once approved by the Regional Office of Education and the Illinois State Board of Eduction, the amendments are binding.

In other business, the board discussed the following issues:

• English Language Learners (ELL): District 58 serves approximately 150 ELL students, helping them become better acquainted with the English language, both socially and academically. ELL teachers are faced with students who speak approximately 27 different languages. They rely heavily on gestures and visuals to help ELL students actively learn the language.

• Food Allergy Management: Sallie Lupescu advised that the board should pass Policy 5150.1 in order to comply with the state regulations set forth for students with severe food allergies. The policy has been placed on the December 13 board agenda for final approval.

• Proposed 2010 Tax Levy:  District 58 homeowners paid twice as much for debt service as they should have in 2009, due to an error by the DuPage County Clerk's office, Popernik said. The district refinanced its outstanding 2001 bonds when it issued new life safety bonds in 2010. However, instead of abating the obligation for the 2001 bonds, the county added it to the debt service levy, doubling it to $2.4 million. To offset the overpayment, the board is abating the entire 2010 debt service levy of $1.2 million.