Voters in two northwest suburban school districts appeared Tuesday to give opposite answers to the problems of rapid growth and congested classrooms, as they approved a building referendum in Barrington District 220 but were narrowly rejecting a similar measure in Community School District 300.
In District 220, with 93 percent of the vote counted, 57 percent of voters said yes to the $69.9 million proposal that would pay for the renovation of seven elementary schools and Barrington High School.
“It’s a credit to the groups of people who, from day one, had a vision,” said school board President Nancy Nemec, who proclaimed victory.
Added Vice President Jane Hansen: “This is the end of a four- to five-year odyssey. We’re going to do what we said we were going to do, as quickly as we can.”
Meanwhile, with 86 percent of the vote counted in District 300, 56 percent of voters were rejecting the $74.5 million proposal to finance construction of two new schools and additions on nine others. The district has struggled with explosive population growth that has caused classroom overcrowding.
District 300 board President Mary Henk said many voters apparently want officials to explore alternatives other than a property-tax increase, such as higher impact fees on developers.
“I think they’re making statement: `Yes, we understand that the schools are overcrowded. But why does the burden have to fall on our property taxes?’ ” she said.
In November, voters rejected a similar measure by a 2-1 ratio. Following that defeat, District 300 officials warned residents to expect boundary changes, split shifts and mobile classrooms if they didn’t approve a spring referendum proposal.
In recent months, members of a referendum support group, Citizens Organized for Responsible Education, had dedicated themselves to educating District 300 residents about the severity of classroom overcrowding.
“We had a number of very dedicated people who put in a lot of hours to explain the situation to voters; that obviously had an impact,” said District 300 Supt. Norm Wetzel, referring to the closer outcome this time.
District 220’s bond issue will raise property taxes $177 annually for the owner of a $250,000 house in Cook County, or $279 for the owner of the same house in Lake County. The sprawling district covers 72 square miles.
Opponents of the Barrington referendum proposal had accused the district of failing to plan sufficiently for growing enrollment. Critics had turned down earlier referendum efforts, saying the district overspent and didn’t make incremental improvements to keep up with the slow but steady addition of students.
Voters rejected a $112 million request in 1995 and a $92 million request in 1996. But in this campaign, the district said there was a dire need for larger classrooms and other improvements at some schools. But some taxpayers had questioned whether the elementary school renovations were needed.
“This is a phenomenal statement of community confidence in the school board and in the district,” said Barrington District 220 Supt. John Lamberson. “If the community wants us to do this, this is the time to get it done. They have given us that responsibility.”
In District 300, officials had said the bond issue would cost the owner of a $150,000 home an additional $79 in annual property taxes. District 300 covers nine municipalities–including Carpentersville, East Dundee and West Dundee–in four counties.
Over the last decade, a building boom has flooded District 300 with 4,000 more children, increasing enrollment to about 15,000.
Officials had promised to reduce the amount if District 300 qualified for some of the $1.4 billion in state school grants. But voters had to approve the referendum proposal for District 300 to qualify.
