District 200 Approves $151M Bond Referendum Question On Ballot

WHEATON, IL — A $151.5 million bond referendum question will appear on the November ballot, after Community Unit School District 200's board of education approved the question at Wednesday's meeting. The bond money would be used to fund "significant infrastructure needs" at Edison, Franklin and Monroe Middle Schools, Superintendent Dr. Jeff Schuler said in a letter to community members.

Below is how the question will appear for voters:

Shall the Board of Education of Wheaton Warrenville Community Unit School District Number 200, DuPage County, Illinois, construct additions to, alter, repair, equip and improve the sites of the Franklin, Edison and Monroe middle school buildings, including constructing safety and security improvements, updating infrastructure and mechanical systems to improve efficiency, improving special education spaces and accessibility, updating science lab classrooms, improving music spaces, completing technology improvements and renovating instructional spaces, and issue bonds of said School District to the amount of $151,500,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?

Among these infrastructure needs, CUSD 200 listed:

Safety and security upgrades

• More secure entrances
• Upgraded surveillance systems
• Improved sight lines in hallways

Accessibility improvements

• Increased ADA compliance
• Safety improvements

Modernized learning environments

• More contemporary science labs
• Larger classroom spaces
• Renovated music, library, gym spaces

Improved utilities

• Upgrades to roofing, plumbing, HVAC systems
• Improved lighting
• More energy efficient electrical systems

If the bond referendum question is approved, the average taxpayer will see a $71 annual decrease in their bond and interest payments, per CUSD 200.

Schuler wrote, "As the district has diligently paid off old debt, we are able to re-issue a portion of that debt amount to complete the effort to update our middle schools while letting the remainder fall off, reducing the Bond and Interest Fund tax rate for our residents."

Schuler added,

"This community-driven plan to modernize our middle schools would provide safer and more secure buildings with learning spaces that support the rigorous curriculum our community expects and deserves. It would build pride in our middle school buildings. It would bring parity to our four middle schools, giving all students the same quality learning opportunities. It could also provide welcoming spaces for the community. And all this can be accomplished without a tax increase—in fact, with a reduction in our Bond and Interest Fund tax rate, for the third time in five years."

The school district aims to pay off the $151.5 in bonds within 15 years.