In less than a week, voters will decide whether or not to raise the tax limiting rate for homeowners living in Warren Township High School District 121. This will be the second referendum for the district in two years, as the district has continued to face financial challenges.
Since the 2021 referendum failed, district officials have been working on getting the word out about the upcoming June 28 referendum.
If approved, the referendum would result in a tax increase of $16.67 per month, or $200 per year for every $100,000 of a home’s fair market value. In a recent news release, the district said that the Illinois State Board of Education estimates that District 121 is only 70% adequately funded.
If the referendum fails, the district plans to shorten the school day from eight periods to seven, which will eliminate many elective courses and result in a reduction of Lake County Technology Campus participation. District officials have also said they will need to begin eliminating activities and clubs, including drama, band and choir, as well as some athletic programs.
Before Tuesday’s meeting adjourned, school board President Paul Schulz took a moment to thank his fellow board members and the members of the administration for the work that they put into informing the community about the referendum, and what is at stake with the vote.
“This has been a couple-year project for the board and the administration just to get the word out,” Schulz said. “I can’t emphasize enough how much work was done by the people here, and how much it’s appreciated. Whether the vote is one way or another, it’s not because of a lack of effort by everyone here, so thank you very much.”
Whichever way the vote goes next week, it’ll be the responsibility of a new superintendent to oversee as Tuesday’s meeting was the last for Superintendent John Ahlgrim, who is retiring at the end of the month. Ahlgrim has served as the superintendent for the district since 2015.
He will be replaced by Daniel Woestman, whose contract starts on July 1. Woestman most recently served as the superintendent of Belvidere Community Unit School District 100.
“I hope you realize the impact you’ve had on so many students and families’ lives throughout your career,” Schulz said.
The board president also spoke about Ahlgrim’s leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the school was navigating online classes and how to bring students back into the building safely, and how much the superintendent’s leadership meant to him.
More Top Picks Best Label Makers For Organization
“I became board president in the fall of 2019, before life began to change a little bit,” Schulz said. “Your guidance to me during that time was outstanding, I don’t think I could have done it without you. Much less the guidance that you gave to the board and the school. Those were some interesting times to say the least, so thank you for your guidance at that time.”
The meeting also served as the last that Bency Beals will serve on the Board of Education. During the meeting, Beals announced that she will move to South Carolina next week, and will no longer be serving on the board.
Beals has served as a member on the board since being elected to her seat in 2019. Her term officially comes to an end in April 2023, but because she is leaving her seat early the board will look for candidates to serve out the rest of her term before elections are held again next year.
“I’m so grateful for this experience,” Beals said. “I’m going to definitely miss this. This is where I went to school, this is where my boys went to school, so I’m really happy I was able to serve on this board with you.”
Following guidance from the Regional Office of Education and the Illinois School Code, the board has 60 days to approve a new board member to finish the rest of Beals’ term. The board will post a news release to its website this week with more information for interested candidates, but applications will be due July 13.
The board is tentatively planning to interview candidates at a special meeting on Aug. 2. The candidate will most likely be confirmed at the board’s Aug. 16 meeting, according to Schulz.