District 200 has earned the trust of voters

As former CUSD 200 school board presidents, we have chosen collectively to endorse the upcoming school district referendum on Nov. 5. We ask for your support with a yes vote.

In 2017, the school district solicited feedback from the community after a failed broad-scope referendum. In response, a yearly commitment was made to address capital needs. Since then, the district has completed over $55 million of capital projects without increasing debt. Secure entries in all school buildings were a high priority and have been completed. In addition, in 2020, the district built a much-needed Jefferson Early Childhood Center being paid for through operating expenses, again without adding to the bond debt.

With bond debt a continuing community concern, over the past seven years, the board of education, through staff’s alert and astute financial management, took opportunities to restructure debt and pay it off early. This resulted in saving over $10 million of the taxpayers’ money.

What is left to tackle are significant needs at three of our four middle schools: Edison, Franklin, and Monroe. Hubble, built in 2009, does not need major updates or renovation at this time.

Through the fiscal responsibility of maintaining a balanced budget for the past 15 years, the district is at a point where it can reissue a portion of the debt to finance the much-needed updates to these three oldest middle schools while still providing a tax reduction to the community.

We ask for you to join us in voting yes, on Nov. 5, to bring the three oldest existing middle schools, Edison, Franklin and Monroe, up to the physical standards to support the educational excellence provided at our other district schools.

Andy Johnson, Warrenville; Barbara Intihar, Wheaton; James Vroman, Wheaton; Chris Crabtree, Winfield