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How was this plan developed?
Over the past several months, Community Unit School District 201 has continued to look to the community to guide us as we determine the path forward for our schools. So far, we have received feedback from 471 members of the community through in-person presentations, two online surveys, and a scientific phone survey on what improvements they would like to see to their schools and how they would like us to fund those improvements.
Using that feedback in a fully transparent and collaborative process, we developed a community-driven, sustainable plan for the future of our schools.
What is included in the plan?
The $74.6 million plan will now appear on our ballots in the upcoming November 5th election for community approval.
If successful, the referendum will:
- Build a New Combined K-5 Elementary School
- Increase Safety & Security Throughout the District
- Provide 21st Century Learning Environments for All Students
The referendum would build a new combined K-5 elementary school to replace Manning and Miller. This new community elementary school would provide our elementary students a safer and healthier building with improved learning environments. We’d be able to achieve operational efficiencies and reduce maintenance and infrastructure costs. And all K-5 students would be able to learn together in a single building, which has been a request from our community for many years.
The referendum would also improve safety, security, and accessibility throughout the district. This would lead to safer, updated, and more accessible schools through investments in infrastructure and mechanicals, including roofs, heating and cooling, asbestos and mold abatement, electrical, plumbing, windows, flooring, parking lots, wheelchair lifts, and more accessible entrances. It would also create more secure environments for students and teachers through updated fire alarms, intercom systems, and camera systems as well as more secure doors.
Finally, the referendum would renovate classrooms, science labs, and student support spaces, allowing us to effectively implement our current and future curriculum and optimize hands-on learning. This includes new technology, furniture, carpeting, lighting, electrical, and storage in classrooms. Science lab classrooms would be modernized at Westmont High School, providing more space, modern features, and improved furniture. Westmont Jr. High would get new science tables and equipment, and the new elementary school would include STEM spaces. In addition, each school would have dedicated spaces for specialized instruction and related student services such as nursing and special education, leading to healthier students with stronger social and emotional skills.
Where would the new school be located?
The district has multiple options we are considering for this new school. We are exploring these options, ensuring we find the most fiscally responsible, centrally located location possible for our elementary families. As always, we will transparently share all details with the public as this process progresses.
What are the benefits to students and the community?
History has proven that if we improve our facilities, especially our elementary schools, student performance will increase dramatically. With school buildings that support learning at higher levels than what we have now, students would reach even higher levels of achievement. Ongoing infrastructure and maintenance costs would be dramatically reduced, allowing us to be more efficient in our use of tax dollars.
And the entire community would benefit, with homeowners enjoying higher property values and our schools contributing to the revitalization of Westmont’s downtown.
What happens if the referendum is not successful?
If this referendum does not pass, the district will have to reduce educational services for our students to pay for ongoing repairs to the buildings.
Why is the referendum necessary?
Community Unit School District 201 is one of the most special and unique districts in the region. Our students benefit from the individual attention, personal relationships, and community connections only possible in small, community-based school districts while gaining access to the consistent instruction and increased opportunities only possible in unit districts. As a result, our schools outperform most schools in the state and have earned among the highest ratings.
However, that high achievement is at risk. While our teachers, students, and staff make the most of what we have, our facilities are aging and creating potential health and safety hazards, especially our elementary schools. Our four schools are between 44 and 94 years old with leaking roofs, extreme temperature swings due to failing HVAC systems, poor air quality, asbestos and mold concerns, falling ceilings, and crumbling sidewalks and parking lots. Most classrooms have been frozen in time since the 1960s, severely limiting our curriculum and holding our students back. One of our playgrounds is so bad it’s regrettably referred to as a “prison yard.” And some schools have no dedicated student service spaces, forcing kids to receive interventions and support in hallways.
Our kids deserve better. Our school buildings, particularly Manning and Miller, do not measure up to the quality of our school district. Our community isn’t looking for fancy, expensive facilities, but we do demand our schools reflect who we are as Westmont.
How will the referendum impact my taxes?
Unfortunately, we cannot make these improvements desired by our residents with our current funding. Our board and administration make every cent go farther by vetting every expenditure and focusing our available funds on classrooms. Our responsible fiscal stewardship has earned our district state and industry recognition. But with rising inflation significantly increasing costs and our district receiving limited financial assistance from the state (just 7% of our budget compared to a state average of 24%), funding isn’t available to make the improvements our community desires.
If the referendum is successful, the average $350,000 district home would see an increase of $782 (or $65 per month) in property taxes the first year. As property values are projected to rise in the coming years, property tax increases in DuPage County will be capped at 5% annually.
Please utilize our tax calculator to determine your tax impact.
What will we see on the ballot?
To achieve the improvements desired by our community, the Westmont CUSD 201 Board of Education voted unanimously to place the following referendum question on the ballot in the upcoming November 5th general election:
“Shall the Board of Education of Westmont Community Unit School District Number 201, DuPage County, Illinois, build and equip a school building to replace the J.T. Manning and C.E. Miller Elementary School Buildings, acquire land, alter, repair and equip existing school buildings and improve the sites thereof, including replacing mechanical systems and building infrastructure, installing safety and security improvements, renovating classrooms, science labs and spaces for student support services, and improving athletic facilities and parking lots, and issue bonds of said School District to the amount of $74.6 million for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?”
Who can vote and where can I register to vote?
You can vote in the November 5th election if you are a U.S. citizen, you will be 18 years old by election day, and if you have been a resident of your precinct at least 30 days prior to election day. You must be a registered voter, and you may register to vote online through the Illinois State Board of Elections website.
What are the different ways to vote?
You can vote by mail. You may now request a vote-by-mail application HERE.
You can vote early. Limited early voting begins at all five Cook County Circuit Courthouse locations and downtown Chicago (69 W. Washington St.) from Oct. 9 to Nov. 4 and at permanent sites from Oct. 21 to Nov. 4. Click HERE for early voting locations.
You can vote in person on election day, Nov. 5. Click HERE to find your polling place location.
Will bonds approved by the referendum be used to cover salaries and benefits?
No. Bonds will only be used to fund needed infrastructure projects. By law, these funds must only be used for that purpose because referendum language is legally binding. We will continue to fund salaries and benefits out of our standard operating budget. Any funds approved by the community for their schools will be 100% invested in improving our school infrastructure.
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