School repairs on the line in Dist. 75
With 445 kids under the age of 6 filling the hallways during the day, visitors may not notice the flaws at the Washington School Primary Center.
"When you come at night, you can see it in a whole different light," says Cynthia Heidorn, superintendent of Mundelein District 75.
Leaking roofs, water damage, an outdated boiler, broken lunch tables and peeling cabinet doors are among the deficiencies the district wants to fix.
Repairs at Washington would cost more than $1.5 million. But the other three district schools -- Lincoln, Mechanics Grove and Carl Sandburg Middle School --also have issues.
Some were revealed during a required state inspection, the others determined after meetings with parents and teachers.
On Feb. 5, voters will be asked two questions that would allow District 75 to issue two bonds. The first for $6.6 million, would fund repairs and life safety projects. The second for $3.3 million, would provide air conditioning in all the buildings.
School officials and a team of volunteers are in the midst of an information blitz to convince voters to pass the measures. Without the approval, not nearly as much work could be done, supporters say, because the district has limited bonding authority without voter approval. Deferred projects likely would cost more in the future, they say.
Supporters are facing a tough sell as only 15 percent of registered voters in the district have children in school.
But there are several advantages to issuing the bonds, they add.
Construction bonds are different from tax hikes, according to supporters, in that they have a defined time limit, 13 years in this case. Even with approval of both questions, the bond and interest portion of the property tax bill for the 7,000 households in District 75 will drop.
According to the district, the owner of a $300,000 home will pay about $410 this year as that part of the tax bill. Because the debt that contributes to that bill will be retired, those same owners would pay about $291 even if both questions pass.
Put another way, homeowners would pay about $244 less in 2009 if both questions are voted down compared with about $119 less if both are approved.
District officials say they have held the line on spending and that the repairs are necessities not luxuries.
"We can't do all of the things we think are really needed," without voter approval, said Wells Frice, school board president.
"We've been living within our means," he added. "We haven't bait and switched them (residents). That's the worst thing in the world you can do."
Of the district's 2,018 students, 27 percent are low-income and 38 percent are Spanish speaking. The district spends about $7,700 per pupil compare to the statewide average for elementary districts of $9,500 per pupil.
Supporters also point out that new commercial development that boosts property tax revenue, such as the Mundelein Crossings shopping center, is not in the district.
"We're in a very small corridor," said Charmela Anderson, co-chair of Citizens in Support of District 75 Schools. "We're landlocked. The public perception is we're getting all this money but we're not."
The district consciously decided to make air conditioning a separate question.
"I wanted to give us the best chance of passing the things we absolutely, positively have to do," Frice said.
Work plan
Following are proposed costs and projects for Mundelein District 75 facilities
Washington School Primary Center (pre-k/k/1st grade)
122 S Garfield Ave.
Built in 1950; five additions; 25 classrooms
Life safety: $408,237
School repairs: $1,151,784
Air conditioning: $1,377,935
Major projects:
• Repair/replace leaking roofs
• Replace boiler
• Repair sewer
• Add bus circle drive
• Replace lights, add drop ceilings
• Replace old sinks, cabinets
• Replace carpet with tile
• Replace broken lunch tables
• Construct small offices
Lincoln School (grades 2, 3, 4 , 5)
200 W. Maple Ave.
Built in 1880; six additions; 20 classrooms
Life safety: $233,055
School repairs: $172,272
Air conditioning: $125,000
Major projects:
• Replace/repair leaking roofs
• Replace broken sewer line
• Replace asphalt circle drive
• Replace carpet with tile
• Possible chiller replacement
Mechanics Grove School (grades 2,3, 4, 5)
1200 N. Midlothian Road
Built in 1968; two additions; 27 classrooms
Life safety: $447,196
School repairs: $628,165
Air conditioning: $483,538
Major projects:
• Replace/repair leaking roofs
• Replace/upgrade lighting
• Replace classroom heaters
• Replace water line to water main
• Replace carpeting with tile
• Replace broken lunch tables
• Resurface playground
Carl Sandburg Middle School (grades 6,7, 8)
855 W. Hawley St.
Built in 1958; seven additions; 46 classrooms
Life safety: $606,194
School repairs: $1,895,284
Air conditioning: $1,315,573
Major projects
• Replace/repair leaking roofs
• Fix crumbling bricks
• Replace classroom heaters
• Replace north gym parking lot
• Replace north gym floor; remodel locker rooms
• Remove asbestos-covered tank and floor tile
• Repair kitchen storm drain
• Replace lighting/ceiling tiles (north and south wings)
• Update sixth and seventh grade science labs
• Add power panels
• Reconfigure storage areas to clear hallways/gym
District office (former Fremont library)
470 N. Lake St.
Built in 1936, two additions; three classrooms
Life safety: $240,864
School repairs: $145,380
Air conditioning: n/a
Major projects:
• Replace front and rear doors, siding
• Balance and zone ventilation
• Replace broken heating and air conditioning systems
• Replacement lighting
• Repair asphalt
• Configure technology hub and storage room
• Remodel former classroom; conference/board room and washrooms
• Replace carpet
Mundelein District 75 referendum
District address: 470 N. Lake St., Mundelein
District phone number: (847) 949-2700
What they are asking: Voters are being asked to approve two questions. The first is to issue $6.6 million in building bonds for school repairs and life safety improvements; the second is for $3.3 million in bonds to air condition the four school buildings and replace the broken heating and air conditioning system at the district office.
What it means to taxpayers: If approved, the owner of a $300,000 home would pay would pay $119 less in 2009 than in 2008. If not approved, the same homeowner would pay about $244 less in 2009.
For more information: Visit www.district75.org.