More students are coming into Mokena Elementary School District 159, and that means the district needs more classrooms and more money to pay for them.
The school board last week voted to accept an advisory committee recommendation to hold a referendum asking voters to approve a bond issue to finance a building program.
District Supt. Roger Reardon said expanding classroom space is expected to cost $7 million.
Enrollment hit the 1,600 mark in September, and an addition to the junior high school building was filled when it opened last month.
“There is no doubt that we have no room left at Mokena Elementary or Willowcrest (Schools),” Reardon said.
If voters approve the bond issue request, school crowding won’t really be eased until the 1995 school year, he said.
The superintendent praised the “time, energy and research” contributed by the District 159 Facility Advisory Committee, which began discussing the building crunch in September.
The committee was composed of parents, teachers, administrators and community residents.
