WASHINGTON — Eleven years after Central School District voters approved a referendum that paved the way for the construction of a new school and extensive renovations at the district's existing school, they'll decide the fate of another referendum March 20.
Central Primary School opened in 2009, joining Central Intermediate School in the K-8 district, after the passage of an $11.8 million referendum in 2007.
The March 20 referendum is for $12 million. It addresses space issues in both schools in the growing district, which had 1,356 students enrolled as of Dec. 14 and is projected to have 1,426 students by 2021, a 5 percent increase.
There were 1,021 students in the district when the K-3 Primary School opened. District enrollment has increased nearly 33 percent since then. The number of staff members has jumped from 126 to 165, an increase of 30 percent, during the same period of time.
Four portable classrooms are being used this year at the Primary School, each for a second-grade section. Two other second-grade sections have classrooms inside the school.
The March 20 referendum would pay for a combination of construction and renovation if it passes. It focuses on classrooms, collaborative spaces, room for technology, and expansions of the multi-purpose/commons rooms at both schools, band/choir area at the Intermediate School, and gym at the Primary School.
The school district's technology inventory includes 950 Google Chromebooks, 150 laptops, 120 desktop computers and 120 projectors.
Programming is expected to expand in the school district along with space with the addition of foreign language and art classes and the infusion of the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) approach to educational offerings.
"While our facilities challenges are difficult, we also see them as an opportunity to increase our programming," said Superintendent Dale Heidbreder.
A minimum two-thirds majority is needed for the referendum to pass. If that happens, the owner of a home valued at $100,000 would pay an additional $8.63 annually for an expected 20 years. The increase is $19.16 annually for the owner of a $200,000 home and $24.42 annually for the owner of a $300,000 home.
Passage by less than a two-thirds majority but more than 50 percent would mean no tax increase for property owners, and the school district would borrow $8 million — its debt capacity — to address some of the facilities issues.
"Both options are based on a maximum capacity of 1,500 students on our current (32-acre) campus," Heidbreder said. "If our district continues to grow beyond 1,500 students, additional land would be required for an additional building."
If approved, referendum work would not begin until at least spring 2019, Heidbreder said.
Three facilities community engagement meetings this fall led by a citizens leadership committee made up of parents, staff, administrators and board members led to a referendum plan that was presented Dec. 11 to the School Board by the committee and approved Dec. 14 by the board.
"The overwhelming feedback we got from participants at the community engagement meetings is they'd like us to expand programming and facilities," Heidbreder said.
Central Intermediate School made news last fall when it was named a National Blue Ribbon School for 2017 by the U.S. Department of Education.
Heidbreder said he's also proud that the school district received "Financial Recognition" status from the Illinois Association of School Boards for the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 fiscal years.
For more information on the facilities community engagement meetings and referendum, go to www.central51.net or contact Heidbreder at dheidbreder@central51.net or 444-3943.
Steve Stein can be reached at 686-3114 or stevestein21@yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpartanSteve.