District 26 voters to decide fate of proposed Early Learning Center
Voters in River Trails School District 26 this November will decide whether to increase their taxes so the district can build a $29 million Early Learning Center that top school officials say is a necessity, not a nicety.
Superintendent Dane Delli said the district's enrollment is increasing as more young families are moving into the area and the district's two elementary schools are nearing their capacity.
"Indian Grove School already was forced to have a shared music and art classroom last year," Delli said. "That trend would continue. You can't create the space out of thin air. We would likely see larger class sizes."
The plan calls for construction of a single-story, 20-classroom building for about 400 students on district property at 1900 E. Kensington Road in Mount Prospect.
Delli said the new building would allow the district to send all of its prekindergarten and kindergarten students to the new building, which would free up room at both elementary schools and allow the district to offer prekindergarten services to the general student population. Delli said pre-K services now are offered only to students who are learning English or require special services.
The project would raze the existing building, which currently houses the district's administrative offices and Park View Montessori, a private preschool and kindergarten school that leases space from the district.
Delli said the building is approaching 60 years old, and if the tax increase is rejected, the district will need spend about $6.2 million on repairs to keep it functional. Delli said adapting the current building to be used as an early learning center would require additional funds to transform it into a 21st-century classroom space.
Delli said it isn't yet known where the administrative offices would be relocated if the plan is approved, but he said officials would likely look at leasing nearby commercial office space.
If the voters approve the construction of the new building, homeowners will have to pay an additional $34.75 per $1,000 of their current tax bill, officials said. The issue will be on the ballot Nov. 8.