About
The Board of Education is asking the community to approve a $94.9 million bond referendum on the April 1 ballot. The proposal was developed with community input as part of the district's Building Tomorrow Together community engagement program and is based on needs identified in a comprehensive Facilities Master Plan.
DLA Architects has developed plans for school additions and renovations as outlined in the Facilities Master Plan that can be built with $20 million of district operating funds and the proposed $94.9 million bond referendum. The basic floor plans outline square footage and renovations possible within the funding allocations for each school.
If the referendum passes, there will be a one-year design phase where the architects and the district will gather input from staff, students, and the community to finalize designs. It is expected that the district would break ground in summer 2026 at all the schools at the same time to capitalize on economies of scale.
Please listen to the following Insight 28 podcast episodes to learn more:
5 Facts About The Bond Referendum
1. The plan will keep schools safe and up to date
Our buildings are 60 to 75 years old, and they are showing their age. The building plan will update safety and security, make the school more accessible, and ensure our classrooms are equipped to support today's best practices in curriculum and instruction.
2. Our students perform in the top 1% of the state.
D28 is one of the top-achieving elementary districts in the state of Illinois. Taking steps to address overcrowding and improve learning environments will give our teachers and students the support they need to continue to achieve at high levels.
3. It keeps neighborhoods strong.
Our schools are a source of pride for this community and often one of the first things people consider when choosing where to live. Making updates now will provide improved learning environments for today's students and generations of future students. Failing to address needs today will only result in higher costs in the future.
4. It’s a cost-effective plan.
Replacing, as opposed to renovating, an aging Meadowbrook School is a better use of funds and results in a new school that needs minimal maintenance or repair for many years to come. In addition, because of responsible financial planning, the district can cover $20 million of the total cost of improvements. For a median home value of $500,000, the cost of this proposal is $1.88 a day.
5. It protects what’s important.
Students are learning and achieving but our buildings are showing their age. Our schools represent more than a $300 million investment by our community. To protect that investment, we must keep them in good working condition.