Warren High tax-hike request might hinge on consultant's findings
Results from an independent study of Warren Township High School's Almond Road upperclassmen campus likely will play in role in whether officials decide to pursue a second try at a tax increase for a building expansion.
Dublin, Ohio-based DeJong Inc. was hired to study student data and the structure itself on Almond Road south of Washington Street. Gurnee-based Warren District 121 board members are expected to meet with DeJong representatives Aug. 7.
Warren board President John Anderson said he looks forward to hearing from DeJong.
"Maybe they have ideas we haven't thought of," Anderson said Thursday.
If a full-fledged Almond Road building expansion is deemed necessary, Anderson said, the District 121 board would decide at its Aug. 19 meeting whether to place tax-increase referendum on the ballot in November.
DeJong specializes in capacity analysis and facility assessments for schools across the United States. Its client list includes public school districts in Grand Rapids, Mich., and Portland, Ore.
In April 2007, voters rejected by a 67 percent to 33 percent ratio a building expansion plan for the Almond Road campus. Opponents argued Warren's problem was spending, not revenue.
Warren wanted an increase of 26 cents per $100 of equalized assessed valuation that, among other things, would have gone toward adding 25 classrooms, a new cafeteria and extra office space. The Almond Road building opened in 1997.
District 121 board member Richard Conley said he'll keep an open mind on potential plans for the Almond Road facility. Conley was among the tax-hike opponents before he won election to the board in April 2007.
Conley said the board made a good investment in paying $5,000 to DeJong for an independent study of the Almond Road building. He said officials didn't want to hire a company based near Chicago or Milwaukee to ensure independence.
About 2,000 students are expected at the Almond Road campus, which is at capacity. Last year's plans called for upping the capacity to 2,400 students.
Conley said it would be worth investigating whether the school's basement can be configured for classrooms.
"Let's make sure we're maximizing our space," he said.