State grants go to suburban schools
SPRINGFIELD — Warren Township High School District 121 will start building a three-story addition to the district’s O’Plaine campus school in the coming months thanks to a $11.5 million grant announced by the state Thursday.
Superintendent Phil Sobocinski said the addition will include 12 science rooms and space for special education services.
“I was extremely gratified,” Sobocinski said of learning about the grant.
The state announced more than $600 million in school grants Thursday, including $7.7 million for St. Charles Unit District 303, $14.5 million for Wheaton Unit District 200 and $39.4 million for Huntley District 158.
The requests date back to 2003, as the long line for state money to pay for school building projects continues to be backed up.
In fact, District 303 Superintendent Don Schlomann said his district’s projects — the building of two elementary schools and an addition to St. Charles East — were completed years ago. So the school board will now have to decide how to use the $7.7 million — likely either to pay off debt or pay for a new project.
“At the same time, it’s appreciated,” Schlomann said.
Wheaton District 200 officials are in a similar situation, said spokeswoman Erica Loiacono. Their $14.5 million was intended to pay for additions to both Wheaton North High School and Wheaton Warrenville South High School, and now will be used for other things.
The grants are paid for through the state’s massive road and building plan approved by lawmakers and Gov. Pat Quinn in 2009.
The money comes from higher license plate and driver’s license fees, higher taxes on alcoholic beverages, a higher sales tax rate for soda, candy and hygiene products, and, eventually, video gambling machines in Illinois bars and restaurants. It must be used for construction projects or go toward debt for previous work.
That’s likely how it will be used in Huntley, which initially requested the money to build schools — now completed — to keep up with growth in the area, said Superintendent John Burkey.
“Our debt payments go up significantly every year,” he said.