Kaneland School District officials are looking to the future after voters on Tuesday rejected a proposed $57.5 million bond issue to make improvements to Kaneland High School, which was originally built in 1958.
The unofficial vote totals in Kane and DeKalb counties show about 58% voting against the measure and 42% voting in favor of the bond issue.
Superintendent Todd Leden addressed the outcome of the election to Kaneland families in an email message.
“Thank you for speaking out and making your voices heard on the referendum. According to preliminary results, voters opposed the referendum by a 58% to 42% margin. We are still waiting for all mail-in ballots to be counted, but we don’t expect the outcome of the referendum to change,” Leden said.
If the bond issue had been approved, the district’s portion of property taxes would have increased approximately $244 annually on a home with a market value of $280,000, officials said.
Leden said the Kaneland School Board will be looking for the community’s input in the future.
“We have heard you, and we will be re-engaging with you in the near future to gather feedback on the results of this referendum. We will continue to work together and support each other to deliver the highest quality education to our students despite the challenges we face,” the superintendent said.
“We look forward to continuing this discussion as we work together to solve the facility challenges our high school faces,” Leden said.
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In a previous interview before Election Day, Leden said Kaneland High School “is 65 years old and has significant infrastructure and mechanical needs.”
The high school has about 1,300 students.
A master facility plan developed three years ago originally identified 10 projects that needed to be done at the school. That number was whittled down after surveying the community, Leden said.
The board reviewed the options and narrowed the options to six projects to be funded with the proposed bond issue, he said.
He said the six projects would make the high school safer and more efficient, modernize learning environments for students and teachers plus provide students with more resources and improved athletic facilities.
Some of the proposed improvements to athletic facilities included a new stadium with an expanded eight-lane track, a synthetic turf field and additional seating, restrooms and parking. Other upgrades planned included renovating and expanding the high school tennis courts and relocating the baseball/softballs fields into a new complex.
Additions to Kaneland High School were made in 1962, 1969, 1993, 1996, 2004 and 2006, officials said.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.