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player ready...For the second time this year, voters in Hinsdale Elementary School District 181 narrowly defeated a bond issue for a new middle school, and this time the margin increased.
Two other DuPage County schools tax-increase proposals also were rejected, while Republicans swept all county offices.
Once again, the $19.5 million bond issue for a 1,200-pupil school was defeated by opponents brought together by four different objections.
Some insisted the proposed building was too large and wanted two schools each with a capacity of 600 children on two separate sites. Residents living nearby the middle school did not want such a large building virtually in their front yards.
Some could not understand why the district wanted a new building to replace the present 20-year-old structure. Still others opposed a property-tax increase.
The vote was 6,129 against the bond issue and 5,728 for, a margin of 401. In March’s referendum, the bond issue lost by 138 votes.
“This was a very visible issue,” said David Kewer, referendum campaign chairman. “The results indicate there is a fundamental resistance by core groups of citizens in Hinsdale and Clarendon Hills.
“The problem has not gone away. The options will be a second middle school or renovation and expansion.”
By 2001, enrollment at the middle school is expected to reach 1,182. The current 978-pupil enrollment exceeds the capacity of 800, forcing many into 10 portable classrooms outside.
The Hinsdale middle school question was one of the more contentious issues on the ballot Tuesday in DuPage County, where the traditionally Republican voters of the region again were expected to reject all but the GOP candidates.
In early returns, Republican incumbents appeared very likely to turn back Democratic challengers for the offices of recorder, circuit clerk, coroner and auditor. The same thing was happening in other contested races.
In Center Cass Elementary School District 66 in Darien, voters narrowly defeated a proposal to issue $11.9 million in bonds.
“We thought we had come to the taxpayers with a school plan for the next two decades,” said William Cotter, board president. “Now we go back to the drawing board.”
In Roselle Elementary School District 12, early results also showed voters leaning against a proposal to increase property taxes 28 cents for each $100 of assessed valuation to help eliminate an education fund deficit.
It was the fifth time the tax increase had failed.
“We tried it every chance we had,” said Supt. Dennis O’Connell. “The increase was defeated in November 1994, April 1995, November 1995, and March 1996.
“We’re limping along and we continue to deficit-spend,” he said. “We don’t have anything else to cut.”
The school board proposed that a new building with a capacity of 1,200 be erected on the same site as the present Hinsdale Middle School, and that the old facility be torn down.
The board contended it could not find available land acceptable to build a new school. It warned that middle school educational programs will deteriorate in the next three years unless prompt action is taken to upgrade facilities.
Had voters approved the proposal, it would have added $124 to the annual property tax bill for the owner of a $300,000 house.
In Center Cass, with one school in Darien and two in Downers Grove, officials want to build a new school, close an aging building and enhance technology.
The district is facing an enrollment surge. By 2000, the number of pupils is expected to increase to 1,500 from the current 1,200. Officials want to replace 45-year-old Center Cass school with a new building for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders.
Lakeview Junior High would have a five-classroom addition, three science laboratories, and new washrooms and storage areas. Computers would be added at all three schools.
The bond issue would have added $200 a year to the property tax bill for the owners of a $200,000 house.
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The Roselle district was trying a fifth time to persuade voters to increase the education fund tax rate 28 cents for each $100 of assessed valuation. The school board wanted the tax boost to help end an education fund deficit.
The last two times District 12 voters approved school tax increases were in 1968 and 1980.
Meanwhile, there were no surprises in the election results for DuPage County offices, with voters in the traditional GOP stronghold once again casting their ballots in favor of the Republican candidates.
Gwen Henry, who lost her seat on the DuPage County Board in 1994 after an unsuccessful bid against Gayle Franzen for board chairman, won one of two seats on the board from District 4, which includes Milton Township and a portion of Lisle Township in central DuPage County.
Recorder J.P. “Rick” Carney of Wheaton, the Republican incumbent, defeated Democratic challenger Rosanna “Rosie” Fitzpatrick, a print-services supervisor from Bloomingdale.
Circuit Court Clerk Joel A. Kagann, the Republican incumbent from Woodridge, beat Democratic challenger Linda Linford, a health club manager and trainer from Warrenville.
Coroner Richard R. Ballinger, the Republican incumbent from Glendale Heights, defeated Democratic challenger Dennis Temple, a philosophy professor from Downers Grove.
County Auditor William T. Jacklin, the Republican incumbent from Lombard, beat Democratic challenger James Brewer, a certified public accountant from Carol Stream.