Yes to upgrade Medinah Dist. 11 schools

Daily Herald Editorial Board

For the second straight election, Medinah Elementary District 11 is asking to borrow $8 million to modernize and streamline its schools. Under the request now supported by a community organization, the middle school would be updated and the intermediate school updated and expanded, allowing the district to close the primary school and consolidate kindergarten through fifth grade in one building. Even without the proposed construction, officials estimate the district would spend about $6 million on infrastructure repairs to the aging buildings over the next 20 years. While the economy looks hopeful, the $169 a year this would add to the tax bill on a $350,000 house is still a big bite. Yet the return on the investment is worthy, saving on utilities and the cost of operating a school while giving district students new learning opportunities in buildings that are much the same as when they opened at least 38 years ago. We recommend a YES vote.