Local voters have said yes to a $59.4 million bond sale referendum at Winnetka District 36, allowing refurbishments at all five of the schools.
With all 10 precincts reporting, 3,446 people or nearly 65% of the vote, said yes to the bond sale plan, with 1,887 or just over 35% voting no, according to the Cook County Clerk’s website.
“It is evident that our community is dedicated to continuing the incredible legacy of supporting progressive education, investing in our current and future students, ensuring we are poised to continue to recruit excellent educators, and protecting our beloved historic schools,” stated a community letter co-signed by District 36 Superintendent Kelly Tess and School Board President Emily Rose.
District 36 officials placed the bond sale referendum in front of voters with the stated goal of making improvements at all five of the district’s schools. They were hoping residents would support a plan that carries an additional estimated $929 per year in property taxes on a home valued at $1 million for the next 20 years.
Overall, the district estimates the project will cost $82.6 million, but the district has already spent $14 million as part of a capital plan and intends to use $9 million in district reserves for the balance.
The plan includes new secure entry vestibules, improvements to the electrical systems and either the installation or upgrading of HVAC systems at all five schools. Hubbard Woods is planned to get a new cafeteria/multipurpose room with Crow Island receiving three new classrooms to replace the use of some trailers now being used for classes. The current gym would also be converted to a multipurpose room/cafeteria allowing for the building of a new gym.
Skokie School will also remain open despite a 2019 proposal to consolidate with Carleton Washburne.
Katie Scullion, an opponent of the referendum, acknowledged on election night the measure was going to pass.
“The district just spent four years on this long term facility plan and now that it has passed, I hope the district and the residents will turn their attention to academic quality concerns,” Scullion said.
The vote is a reversal from 2019 when voters rejected a $90.6 million referendum for a much larger project.
Winnetka 36 took a similar path to New Trier where a referendum failed in 2010, but a scaled-back version passed in 2014.
“The Winnetka public schools did look back at the failed New Trier High School and evaluated the path they moved forward with by commissioning a citizens task force that represented all avenues of the village in order to determine the path forward to invest in the school’s infrastructure,” Rose said. “We are thrilled the community has come out and said this is a plan they are willing to support by investing into all five of the Winnetka public schools.”
Construction is set to begin next summer at Greeley and Hubbard Woods with the entire project set to finish in the summer of 2025.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
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