District 112 Voters Reject Referendum

Follow other Illinois races: Illinois Election Results Hub

HIGHLAND PARK, IL - Voters in North Shore School District 112 overwhelmingly voted down a bond issue that would have called for a reconfiguration of the school system and created one middle school campus on the southwest side of town.

With all votes counted as of Wednesday morning, there were 9,662 who voted "No," while 4,580 votes "Yes." That's 67.84 percent "No" and 32.16 percent "Yes." 

“The results are clear. The community has voted, and the people have soundly rejected the District’s vision,” read a statement released by Citizens Against the 112 Referendum, the most outspoken anti-referendum group prior to the election. “Our community values what it has always valued: neighborhood schools, educational quality, and financial responsibility.”

Dr. Michael Bregy, District 112 superintendent, said the district will regroup in the coming weeks to discuss the next steps following the failed referendum.

"While we may have disagreed along the way, we all share concerns over the financial challenges and aging facilities faced by our District, and we want to provide the best education possible for our children," he said in a statement.

Voters were faced with the following question: Shall the Board of Education of North Shore School District Number 112, Lake County, Illinois, improve the safety and efficiency of physical plants, build and equip new buildings on existing sites of said School District and improve said sites, build and equip additions to, alter, repair, equip and renovate existing buildings for instructional purposes and improve the sites thereof, for the purpose of consolidating the schools of said School District, including, without limitation, installing fire safety systems, installing security systems, installing climate control systems and increasing accessibility to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and issue bonds of said School District to the amount of $198,000,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?

If the District’s bond issue had passed, five schools would have closed: Elm Place, Lincoln, Red Oak, Sherwood and Wayne Thomas. Six schools would have been renovated: Braeside, Edgewood, Indian Trail, Northwood, Oak Terrace and Ravinia.

The District’s three middle schools would also have condensed into one middle school campus, which would have been home to all the district’s fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth graders at the current site of Red oak and Sherwood schools.

“It is time for D112 to listen to our collective voice. We call upon the district to begin genuine collaboration toward a consensus plan, guided this time by community values and input,” CARE’s statement continued. “We call upon the District to work with the community on a plan that is educationally sound, financially responsible, and respectful of the neighborhood school model. We are all in this together.”

Results Live Blog:

7:45 p.m. - The first counted votes see 'No' come out with a 68 percent margin.

8:07 p.m. - The tally tightens a bit. With 4,048 votes counted, 2,727 have been cast for 'no.' 1,321 for 'no.' 67 percent for 'no.' 33 percent for 'yes.'

8:34 p.m. - More than 7,000 votes are in, but still none of the 25 full precincts. 'No' votes account for 68 percent. 'Yes' votes for 32 percent.

8:54 p.m. - Still only partial precincts reported, but all precincts have been partially counted. 8,404 total votes. 5,770 'no.' 2,634 'yes.'

9:45 p.m. - The 'No' vote hovers around 68 percent with more than 9,000 votes counted.