District 200 Board to Vote on Jefferson Referendum

The District 200 Board of Education tonight will vote on a referendum question asking taxpayers to support an increase to pay for a new Jefferson Early Childhood Center.

The board last month reviewed two revised and less expensive concepts for a new school to replace the 1958 structure that currently houses students at 130 N. Hazelton Ave.

The $17.6 million, 59,000-square-foot concept is less expensive than the originally proposed $29 million and $18.3 million projects, and eliminates plans for district administrative offices and the additional parking they would require. 

There are plenty of ways to keep up with Wheaton news:

• Get the news in your inbox by signing up for our free daily newsletter.
• Like us on Facebook for a slightly different take.

The board agreed last month that it wants to issue bonds for the entire project, which would result in up to $51 added to taxpayers' bills. After hearing four financing options for the project, the board directed staff to prepare a resolution for the January vote with a plan to bond $17.6 million, amortize some of the principal annually with no debt service extension past 2023.

The estimated tax increase for residents in a $200,000 to $500,000 home would be $19 to $51.

Legat Architect Patrick Brosnan laid out the following schedule to board members for the project:

• Referendum: April 2013
• Design: April 2013-January 2014
• Bidding: February (?) 2014
• Construction: March 2014-April 2015
• Occupancy: August 2015

The board will meet 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9 at Hubble Middle School.

View the entire design presentation on the District 200 website

Related posts:

• District 200 Officials Want $18M Referendum to Rebuild Jefferson
• Jefferson Survey Responders Like Cheapest Option for New School
• District 200 to Survey Residents in Jefferson Preschool Plans
  
• District 200 Proposes 2 Options for New Jefferson Preschool
• New Preschool Plans the Focus of District 200 Community Forums
• District 200 to Seek Input in Plans for a New Jefferson Preschool in Wheaton
• District 200 Considers Jefferson Preschool Replacement Plans

Will you support this referendum? Tell us in the comments below.