We must vote yes on the referendum, because our schools are overcrowded and it is starting to impact our kids’ education.

 

As one of the fastest-growing districts in Illinois, our community’s explosive growth has put the district in an unsustainable position. School enrollment has nearly tripled in the past 20 years. Every building is overcrowded, with even more growth projected in the future. This has created packed classrooms, too many transitions for students as the district tries to fit kids wherever they can, and programming taking place in inadequate spaces.

 

Because our school district has historically been among the lowest funded districts in the entire state, currently only funded at 76% adequacy, they do not have the ability to make the significant infrastructure investments needed to resolve these overcrowding challenges. 

 

The district makes the most of the funding they do receive as one of the most fiscally responsible districts in the state. They spend less than any peer district and considerably less than the state average, with a student-to-administrator ratio 40% higher than the state average, proving they are investing the funding they have into kids and classrooms instead of administrative costs. And they always operate with a balanced budget and maintain a responsible fund balance.

 

But the reality is, while our teachers and staff do the best they can, the overcrowding is beginning to hurt the district’s ability to provide students the quality education we expect.

 

That’s why our community collaborated on a community-driven plan to address the overcrowding our schools face while ensuring we are not put in this position again. 

 

This consensus referendum will add a new elementary school, a new middle school, and a significant addition at the high school, while transitioning Circle Center Grade School to an early childhood center. These additional classrooms will accommodate current and future growth which will eliminate overcrowding, reduce student transitions, provide more space for student health and movement, and keep class sizes from growing. In addition, all grade schools will become K-5 schools and both middle schools will become 6-8 schools, ensuring students stay in their local schools and reducing and balancing transitions throughout the district.

 

This is a transformational moment for the school district we love. We have an opportunity to set our schools on an even more positive path, creating better opportunities for our kids so they can shine. Let’s make it a reality by voting yes!