Though members of a committee studying the possible consolidation of three McHenry County school districts agree a unit district would provide the best education for students, they’ve rejected the idea because of an anticipated taxpayer backlash.
In a 5-1 vote on Tuesday night, the steering committee recommended keeping separate Spring Grove Elementary School District 11, Richmond Grade School District 13 and Richmond-Burton High School District 157.
The school boards of the three districts will receive a report outlining the recommendation later this month and are expected to confer on a final decision.
At Tuesday night’s meeting, all six steering committee members agreed that a unit district would be the best long-term solution for area students.
But because of the particular space constraints faced by each district, and a history of failed unit district referendums in northern McHenry County, committee members decided each district stood a better chance with tax-weary voters of passing their own referendums for additions or new buildings.
“I don’t see any support for a unit district from the public. To come up to a Richmond tax rate will kill a lot of Spring Grove taxpayers, who have no perception of a need for a unit district,” said Dan Koffler, a committee member and president of the Spring Grove School Board.
The three school districts are operating at or above capacity and expect enrollment to increase by at least 200 students in each district during the next five years, officials said.
“Let’s face it: Until the schools are packed to the rafters and mobiles (temporary classrooms) are everywhere on school property, most taxpayers won’t perceive a problem and will not vote for a unit district,” said Dennis Zarnstorff, another committee member.
Added committee chairwoman Cindy Holtz: “As much as I would like to see a unit district, I don’t think it will pass.”
Lynn Hunter was alone in voting in favor of recommending a unit district.
“I think the voters deserve the chance to say yes or no,” Hunter said. “We need to let the public know what’s best and let them decide.
“A unit district would provide the greatest unity, more opportunities for a middle school, more extracurricular activities . . . consistent and coordinated discipline, sequential texts and better supplemental education,” she said.
Even if the school boards vote to abandon the consolidation concept, officials said taxpayers will be asked, perhaps as early as November, to approve selling bonds for a $6.8 million addition or a new $17 million building for the Richmond-Burton High School district; a $6.4 million addition or a $7.4 million new school for kindergartners through 8th graders in Richmond, and a new, $6.7 million school for kindergartners through 6th graders in Spring Grove.
Officials had no projections on how a successful referendum in each of those districts would affect voters’ pocketbooks, but a school finance subcommittee that studied the consolidation plan estimated that switching to a unit district could cost the owner of a $150,000 home roughly $435 a year in additional property taxes.
In addition, tax rates would have to be equalized and parity reached in the salaries of elementary school teachers–moves that could add $120 a year to the tax bills of District 11 residents, and $40 a year to those of District 13 homeowners, according to Ron Erdmann, superintendent of Districts 11 and 157.
Dan Vetter, co-chairman of the facilities subcommittee, warned committee members that if the present growth continues in the districts beyond five years, the consolidation issue would have to be addressed again.
