New school on tap as Kaneland passes request

The Kaneland school district can now build a new middle school.

The tax-increase request passed Tuesday by a vote of 3,602 to 3,275, according to unofficial results with all precincts reporting.

"We are ecstatic," said Superintendent Charles McCormick.

He attributed the turnaround of about 575 votes from the last failed effort to a strong referendum committee and officials talking to more parent groups.

In Kane County, the tax increase was approved 3,298 to 2,976, according to unofficial vote totals. In Aurora, it passed 154 to 117. In DeKalb County, it was voted down 182 to 150.

District officials will move forward with plans for a new middle school and updates to the current middle school as quickly as possible, he said.

The $65 million referendum also includes an addition at Blackberry Creek Elementary School and safety improvements.

District officials estimate it will cost the owner of a $300,000 house about $300 more a year.

After an attempt at a $53.2 million tax increase failed last year, the eighth-grade class was moved to the high school building for its morning classes this year. That will continue next school year.

But the district hopes to open the new middle school, on Harter Road west of Route 47 in Sugar Grove, in fall 2009.

McCormick said the district would like to have improvements done to the current middle school by that time as well.

The new school and additions are especially needed because the lower grades continue to have higher class sizes than the ones graduating, district officials said.

The price of the request went up $12 million from the district's failed attempt last year, which officials said was due to an increase in labor, construction and fuel costs.