Extra voters key to Kaneland win

The Kaneland School Board's $65 million referendum, which voters approved Feb. 5, benefited from an increased number of voters. At a meeting Monday night, the school board certified the election results in which more than 8,000 ballots were cast, about a 3,500-vote increase over last year.

"Sugar Grove was decisive, which was not a surprise," said school board President Lisa Wiet.

Sugar Grove voters cast 1,986 yes votes for the referendum, and 1,378 no votes. The school board plans to break ground on a new middle school for that town as early as April, with a completion date of August, 2009.

Other wins for the referendum took place in Blackberry Township and the Aurora area. Campton, Kaneville and Virgil were among townships that rejected the referendum.

Wiet said in comparison with past election years, the school district is finding more support among voters in DeKalb County and the Maple Park area.

"They are still not passing, but voters there are much more supportive," she said.

According to the school district, student growth has increased 6 percent over the last school year, or the equivalent of about 15 classrooms. Middle school enrollment grew 12 percent, and many classes now have up to 36 students in them.

When issuing the bonds, the school district hopes to benefit from certain provisions designed to provide protection from the recent volatile financial market conditions.

Details on the bond pricing and interest rates are able to vary within set parameters, according to Linda Matkowsky, who presented details on the bond offering to the board. The first bond sale of $35 million is set to take place Tuesday morning.

"These parameters allow us to hold off on the sale if conditions in the financial markets aren't good," said Matkowsky. "We could hold off and put this on the market Wednesday if there is a catastrophe in the bond market."

Matkowsky said the bond issue is designed to minimize the financial impact to taxpayers.

"The housing market is disrupted and people are having a hard time," she said. "Helping taxpayers out is the human thing to do."

In addition to a new middle school, the school district will use the funds generated by the referendum to make improvements to existing schools and add nine classrooms to Blackberry Creek Elementary School.