District 75 invites voters to see condition of schools

The campaign for building improvements in Mundelein Elementary District 75 is getting under way in earnest.

Volunteers were to begin going door to door today to provide information on two referendum questions on the Feb. 5 primary ballot.

Mailers have been sent in the past week to about 7,000 homes and open houses at the various schools are scheduled in upcoming weeks as supporters make their case.

Mailers will be sent to senior citizens and an informational session will be held at the senior center. Yard signs also will begin appearing in support of the measure.

The first ballot question asks voters whether the district should issue $6.6 million in building bonds to repair, improve and equip all four district schools as well as the administration office. The second asks whether $3.3 million in bonds should be issued to air-condition the schools.

"We're getting our plans in place and are going to have a busy month," said Lynn Welch, co-chairman of Citizens in Support of District 75 schools at www.citizensfor75.com.

The list of projects was derived from a survey of so-called life-safety issues at the four schools, which is required by the state to be done every 10 years. The projects include basics like replacing and repairing roofs, windows, water and sewer lines and carpeting.

District officials said these are no-frills projects. The selling point is that by approving the questions, voters will still see a decrease in the amount of property tax they pay.

That's because the last time the district asked voters to approve bonds to repair schools was in 1997. Those bonds are being paid off, meaning the tax rate needed to generate the money for that will be dropping.

While the new bonds would add to the rate, the amount would still result in a lower bill, according to the district.

Owners of a $300,000 home, for example, will pay about $410 for bond and interest this year. If both questions are approved, the bill would be about $291 next year. If both questions fail, the owner would pay about $119 next year.

District officials and volunteers are anxious for voters to see for themselves the conditions in the schools.

"If they really think these (requested repairs) are fluff things, come into the buildings and take a look," said Charmela Anderson of the residents group.

The information/inspection nights will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. All schools are in Mundelein.

• Washington Elementary School, 122 S. Garfield Ave., Jan. 15

• Lincoln Elementary School, 200 W. Maple Ave., Jan. 23

• Mechanics Grove Elementary School, 200 N. Midlothian Road, Jan. 24

• Sandburg Middle School, 855 W. Hawley St., Jan. 30.