Plagued by crowded buildings and booming growth, school districts across the northwest suburbs Wednesday credited a combination of grass-roots efforts, state incentives and new strategies to win voter approval for hundreds of millions of dollars for new facilities and renovations.
Many districts found themselves celebrating after being rejected by voters numerous times in the past.
“We’re just feeling hopeful and grateful,” said Mary Herrmann, superintendent of Barrington-based District 220, which won overwhelming support for $27 million in projects to deal with skyrocketing enrollment. It was the district’s third successful referendum in six attempts.
Of 15 construction bond-issue proposals before voters in the northwest suburban area, all passed. Statewide, about 83 percent of the 41 school bond issue proposals passed, according to the Illinois Board of Education.
Supporters credited volunteer efforts that had parents, teachers in some cases, even past critics choosing projects that required immediate funding, leading to broader community support. Others believe that state incentives in the form of construction grants helped bolster their efforts. Some said maybe this time the pleas finally caught the ear of voters.
“I think people are aware of the fact that buildings are getting old, population in the northwest suburbs is increasing and we have more kids and more special classes for kids,” said Joanne Rooney, associate professor of educational leadership at the National-Louis University campus in Wheeling.
And, she added, districts are just becoming more savvy in how to run a successful campaign.
In Carpentersville-based District 300, where as many as four new schools were at stake, campaign workers raised nearly $50,000 from local developers to turn the tide against opponents who had defeated three prior referendums.
Proponents sent out five different mailings, as opposed to one sent by tax watchdog group, Family Taxpayers, and they took out newspaper ads and created an informational Web site. Unofficial results showed the district, which has seen enrollment increase by an average of 500 students a year, win support from 60 percent of the voters for an $88 million bond issue.
In District 220, the bond issue to replace two elementary schools and continue renovation projects at two other buildings passed, 59 percent to 41 percent. Community members took an active role in speaking to civic groups about the construction needs.
“If people know what’s going on and feel it makes sense, they’ll support it,” Herrmann said.
More Top Picks Best Large Print Planners For Low Vision
One critic, Bill Huley, president of Northwest Tax Watch, a frequent opponent of many local referendums, credited the large voter turnout due to the presidential election with swaying things in favor of many of the bond issues.
“The economy is pretty good and most people are flush with money,” he said.
Harper College, which also ran a community-driven campaign, won 57 percent to 43 percent approval of its $88.8 million bond issue calling for three new buildings for its science, health careers and emerging technology programs.
In Huntley District 158 and Belvidere Community Unit District 100, which includes sections of McHenry County, school officials said the possibility of state construction grants allowed some districts to offer voters better schools for their money.
In District 158, voters approved a $24 million bond issue to build an elementary school and expand the high school, but the project will actually total $39 million. District funds and a potential state grant will cover the rest.
In McHenry High School District 156, where four proposals to build a new high school failed by slim margins, residents voted 54 percent to 46 percent to approve a $39.5 million bond issue to expand one high school and renovate two others.
Voters found it a little harder to support tax increases, which in some cases funded increasing teachers’ salaries or maintenance costs. Across the state only 2 out of 15 proposed tax-rate increases were approved. In Mt. Prospect District 57, voters rejected a tax-rate increase, leaving school officials to determine where to cut student services.
A proposal to increase the education fund tax rate, generating about $2.5 million for McHenry County College, was approved 51 percent to 49 percent. Residents will not see their taxes grow because the increase will be offset by a tax decrease from paying off previous bond issues.