Voters in Evergreen Park Elementary District 124 are being asked to approve $68 million in bonds to replace the existing Central Middle School to update infrastructure, improve traffic flow and to comply with the American with Disabilities Act.
Superintendent Jenna Woodland said if the referendum passes, the district would demolish and replace the middle school at 9400 S. Sawyer Ave.
Taxpayers would receive a one-time increase to their property tax bill for the 2027 calendar year. That new tax rate will remain equal over the course of thirty years, the timeframe in which the district would pay its bonds back, according to an August referendum presentation.
Homeowners can expect an increase in property taxes of about $604 for a $300,000 home, according to the district’s website. The tax estimate does not account for homeowner exemptions. Property owners can calculate their property tax increase, based upon their property’s value and if they have any exemptions on the district’s website at www.d124.org/proposal.
“We’re at the point in time where we’re not able to continue to band-aid fix and address the bigger picture concerns with the building,” Woodland said.
Woodland said the almost 100-year-old building has dealt with outdated infrastructure for quite some time. She said parents have expressed a desire for the school to focus on issues at the middle school, rather than the district’s four elementary schools.
The district schools are Central Middle, Northeast Elementary, Northwest Elementary, Southeast Elementary and Southwest Elementary and the Early Childhood Learning Program.
The district held multiple community meetings last year about putting a referendum on the ballot to fund a new middle school and elementary school improvements.
Woodland said the $110 million proposal did not receive sufficient support to go to voters. The district gathered from community feedback sessions that about 56% of residents supported the plan, and they 70% would be needed.
Woodland said her biggest concerns are student instruction and ADA compliance. The middle school does not now meet ADA compliance standards.
The middle school has a lift to support students who may be handicapped or use wheelchairs. However, Woodland said the lift only supports getting down into the basement, making it difficult for students in wheelchairs or on crutches to get around. The building also only has one outdated elevator that once went out of order.
“One of the students who was in a wheelchair was unable to receive their services on that particular day because they were unable to move around the building, and then students who were on crutches for that day had to receive remote instruction in the library,” she said.
A new building would be more accommodating for students with disabilities or temporary handicaps.
Woodland said another ongoing concern is that the building was only designed to support seventh and eighth grade students. The building currently accommodates sixth through eighth grade students.
“Because the building was originally built to sustain seventh and eighth grade, you have very narrow hallways that obviously create poor circulation,” Woodland said.
She said the classrooms and facilities are also outdated, including science labs, the school’s library and gymnasium. Its security systems are also outdated, and the school also lacks an auditorium, so students have not been able to put on plays or musical theater performances.
A new building would expand classrooms, library and gym size and include new HVAC systems and an auditorium.
Woodland said parents have also expressed concerns with traffic.
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Traffic flow goes around the outskirts of the building, which she said is not necessarily in line with how the school is designed. The new building would include a drop-off lane to avoid main street access directly tied to homeowners.
Woodland said a potential concern for voters is the increase in property taxes.
Higher property taxes have been a topic of concern among many. Property taxes across all cities, towns and districts in Cook County rose about $744 million, or 3.9% from last year.
Woodland said even though paying more property taxes is not ideal, she hopes that by addressing parents’ top concerns, the referendum will pass. She said the new proposal has a lower property tax increase than the previous proposal.
“I think in general to the people who recognize that public education can really make or break a community understand the why behind the decision and that it’s really driven on what’s best for kids,” Woodland said.