Reconfiguration Referendum Will Be on March Ballot

HIGHLAND PARK, IL - The North Shore School District 112 plan for reconfiguration will now officially come down to a vote.

School board members Tuesday night unanimously voted to place the $198 million bond issue to support the plan, which includes the construction of one middle school campus at the current site of Red Oak and Sherwood schools, on the March 2016 ballot.

According to a school news release, the District’s proposed reconfiguration referendum will fully-fund the $198 million estimated total cost of the project. Under the plan, the District will construct a new middle school campus for 5th through 8th grade students at its Sherwood/Red Oak site and significantly renovate six of its existing schools: Braeside, Edgewood, Indian Trail, Northwood, Oak Terrace and Ravinia.

The remaining District 112 schools, Elm Place, Green Bay, Lincoln, Red Oak, Sherwood and Wayne Thomas, will be closed.

“Figuring out how to reconfigure our district is complex, but the reasons behind it are simple: Our schools are deteriorating. The cost of operating 12 schools is unsustainable. We will need to make significant and painful cuts if we continue down this path. However, these challenges also present a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reimagine the best educational learning environment for our students,” said Superintendent Michael Bregy.

“It has always been important to this Board to explore every possible option as it relates to all aspects of reconfiguration, and I’m confident that over the last four years and together with our teachers, administrators, consultants and community we did just that. The reconfiguration plan the Board has voted to put on the ballot tonight is by far the best option for our students, district and community.”

Board President Michael Cohn explained why including the total estimated cost of the project ($198 million) in the referendum is necessary.

“By borrowing enough to fully fund our proposed school reconfiguration plan, the District can reallocate the $48 million we had earmarked as potential funding for this project to enhance the District’s long-term financial health, support future major capital improvements and allows us to retain sufficient flexibility to deal with unknown expenses,” he said. 

“This is similar to a homeowner deciding whether to fund a kitchen renovation with savings that could deplete a family’s rainy day fund or secure a home equity loan that would allow for those costs to be paid over time. This decision is particularly critical given our need to plan around the uncertainty regarding the potential shift of increased pension obligations from the state to local school districts, as well as a prospective freeze on school district property tax revenues.”