District 205 Board To Decide On Possible Referendum

ELMHURST, IL — The District 205 school board will vote on a possible ballot measure to create a referendum at the next meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 14. The potential referendum would be voted on this November and involves the Master Facility Plan, which focuses on educational needs for students, All Day Kindergarten, and Future Ready Learning, according to the district website.

According to the district FAQ, the master facility plan was developed to address facility needs including safety and security, aging infrastructure, updating libraries and media centers, and adding classrooms to accommodate all-day kindergarten.

The work for this plan could be implemented in several different ways, according to the district. The district could do a single project or a series of projects over an extended time. If they choose to do a single project, student would possibly be located to facilitate construction. The district said the timing of the project is still in progress as they seek community feedback.

Previously, the district has had three recent successful referenda. According to the district website, the first was in 2000 to rebuild and renovate York Community High School and add elementary classrooms. The second referendum involved two questions in March 2006, which brought additions to all elementary and middle schools. Lastly, in 2010, a referendum allowed the district the flexibility to house classroom or programs at the administrative center at 162 S. York St.

The board has had several meeting dates about the project and has also created a Community Advisory Team to facilitate feedback.

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