Dist. 303 residents want to rebuild

Just when it seemed money was tight and construction was slow, St. Charles Unit District 303 residents told officials Wednesday night they favor a tax increase to fund the renovation or rebuilding of all 17 buildings in the district.

About 500 district residents and school staff members filled a conference room at the Charlestowne Mall for an early version of what District 303 residents may be doing next April. In three votes that weren't even close, the residents told school officials three things.

First, the notion just a few months ago that reducing class sizes is the main concern of residents is no longer that much of a concern. Residents had the option of reducing class sizes to 20 or even 17 from the current average of 24, but chose instead to direct officials to trim class sizes only as space and the budget allows. Superintendent Don Schlomann forecast the outcome of that vote during his presentation. "Class size was the No. 1 priority until people saw the cost, and then it was no longer the No. 1 priority," Schlomann said.

Second, district residents said they do want all-day kindergarten in the district, but only as an opt-in choice. That eliminates the cost to the district of offering all-day kindergarten. The district will cover the cost of the current half-day kindergarten program. Parents who want their child to go to kindergarten for a full day would have to pay about $200 more per month, per child to be in the program.

Finally, the most overwhelming vote of all saw residents tell the district they'd approve a tax increase to fund construction work on all 17 buildings in the district. That includes the complete rebuilding of Wild Rose, Wasco, Munhall, Davis and Haines schools. That project would cost the owner of a $300,000 home about $312 a year in additional property taxes to the school district.

The school board will now review the results of the vote at its December meeting as the next step toward a likely tax increase referendum in April 2009, which must be placed on the ballot by Feb. 2