As voters consider a $120.6 million bond referendum on the Nov. 3, 2026, ballot, East Maine School District 63 is committed to providing clear, transparent information so every community member can make an informed decision.
The District’s seven schools average 59 years old. For decades, major repairs have been made using reserve funds rather than seeking additional voter-approved funding, and no bond referendum has been approved since the 1960s. Today, however, our aging buildings require improvements that exceed what can be reasonably funded through the annual operating budget. Recent safety and facility assessments confirmed that critical heating, cooling, plumbing, and electrical systems are reaching the end of their useful lives.
If approved, the referendum would address the District’s most pressing facility needs by improving safety and security, enhancing ADA accessibility, replacing aging infrastructure (electrical, plumbing, and HVAC), addressing overcrowding, and updating learning environments.
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The proposal on the ballot reflects community feedback. After residents expressed concerns about the cost of the District’s initial plan, we listened and reduced the scope by 26 percent, cutting $42.4 million by scaling back additions and renovations and focusing the proposal on essential priorities. For a home with the District’s median value of $350,000, the estimated tax impact of the proposed 25-year bond measure is $26 per month, or $314 per year, beginning in 2028.
Residents who would like to learn more are invited to attend a facility tour at Washington School on Oct. 22 at 6 p.m. or Apollo School on Oct. 27 at 5 p.m. Additional information, including a tax calculator, FAQs, and the official ballot language, is available at emsd63.org/referendum, by email at [email protected], or by calling (847) 299-1900.
We encourage all residents to review the facts and participate in the election.
Shawn Schleizer, EdD
Superintendent
East Maine School District 63