District 34 Considers Asking Taxpayers For Capital Referendum

GLENVIEW, IL — Glenview School District 34 officials last week held a trio of community engagement sessions to discuss asking taxpayers to finance capital improvements.

Administrators said all eight of the district's school buildings are in need of widespread repairs, and the scope of the cost is beyond what can be funded with non-referendum bonds and fund balance savings.

"We've reached the juncture where we need to educate our community and ask for input, as I've said, on the challenges that we face," Superintendent Dane Delli said. "The totality of the capital improvements and space needs are such that we do need to consider asking the community for funding through a referendum."

The District 34 board is considering asking voters to approve an approximately $160 million bond referendum to finance up to $180 million in upgrades to district facilities, according to recommendations from the Citizens Financial Advisory Committee and initial conceptual budgets for capital projects.

According to a fact sheet prepared by the district, property values and tax rates in District 34 are lower than neighboring districts, which restricts its ability to fund capital improvements.

District 34 comprises about 35 percent of the total property tax bill for Glenview residents within its boundaries, according the presentation from the engagement sessions.

A $24.9 million referendum to built Attea Middle School was passed in November 2000, the district has not had a referendum to improve and repair all schools for 32 years. In the 19 years since Attea was completed, the board has allocated more than $42 million on capital improvements, maintenance and repairs, according to the district.

Most recently, $9.8 million in non-referendum bonds approved last November was used to take care of critical facility needs.

But Springman Middle School is "functionally obsolete," according to the district. That leads to a lack of parity within the district for middle school students, who have their education experience "limited by under-sized spaces and outdated design," it said. Under the capital plan, Springman would undergo a complete renovation, including an addition, while Attea will have its science labs updated.

Other needed improvements include critical repairs to basic infrastructure, the reconfiguration of traffic patters at Westbrook Elementary School, upgrades to learning spaces to "align with the active inquiry-based instruction our teachers provide."

A potential capital referendum would also allow District 34 to construct additions to elementary schools to allow for full-day kindergarten. Administrators said District 34 is the only Glenbrook High School District 225 feeder school that does not already offer full tax

The District 34 board plans to vote on whether to place the measure on the ballot for the March 17, 2020, primary election at its December meeting. After the board votes, the administrators said they would place a tax calculator on the district website to show the estimated impact of the referendum bonds.

The district is also conducting a survey of community members with questions about facilities, financing and full-day kindergarten.

"The board is looking for your input in helping them make decisions," Delli told attendees at a Sept. 26 engagement session.

Earlier: District 34 Wants Community Members to Join the Conversation