The School District 300 Board of Education might spend most of the $1 million in impact fees collected from developers on improving high school sports facilities.
Board members are weighing a short list of projects that came out of meetings with school principals earlier this month. State law limits how impact fees can be spent.
“We can’t buy textbooks or use the money for salaries,” Fred Goering, a district administrator, said Monday night during a board meeting. “The money has to be used on capital projects” or to buy property, he said
The fees, paid by developers to offset the impact of new housing on school districts, are being held in escrow accounts by the Villages of Algonquin, Carpentersville, East Dundee, West Dundee, Gilberts and Hampshire and should be released to the district this summer, officials said.
Board member John Court said the funds provide an opportunity to improve sports facilities.
“At some of our high schools we are transporting kids off site to compete,” Court said. “There is a question of lost time … and equity.”
Projects being considered are:
– Completing new athletic fields at Jacobs High School.
– Rebuilding long jump and pole vault pits at high schools to meet state standards.
– Constructing a varsity softball field at Dundee-Crown High School.
– Adding basketball hoops to the gymnasium at Hampshire High School.
– Adding a baseball diamond for underclassmen at Dundee-Crown.
– Purchasing land for another school site.
The school board is expected to decide how to spend the funds on June 24.
