Why Did the District 112 Referendum Fail?

HIGHLAND PARK, IL - The North Shore School District 112 ballot initiative seeking a consolidation of schools and the construction of a single middle school campus didn’t come close to passing in March, and now district officials are finding out why.

And while much talk was brought up before and after the vote about the size of the middle school serving as the primary reason for the failure, that’s not the case according to a recent district phone survey.

When asked about the least favorable aspects of the referendum question, only 11 percent of the 300 or so survey respondents claimed it was the size of the middle school.

MORE ON THE VOTE: District 112 Voters Overwhelmingly Reject School Referendum

The $198 million bond amount was the main reason by a landslide, garnering 26 percent of the survey vote. The plans for the middle school in question was second at 15 percent and the transition of fifth graders into a middle school environment was next at 13 percent. The amount in increased property taxes was also a factor, with 13 percent of respondents selecting that choice.

The survey included several other questions related to the district, its leadership and current financial situation.

A vast majority of respondents rated District 112 as either an “excellent” or “very good” school district. A higher amount of people strongly disagreed, however, that the school board has been clear about the current financial situation. Most did say they would be willing to pay more in taxes in order to help keep neighborhood schools open.

See full survey results here