No referendum for Dist. 220 this year

Barrington Area Unit District 220 will not ask residents for more tax money this fall for a new middle school.

School board members agreed this week that putting a tax increase referendum to voters in November was not in the district's best interest.

With construction starting on the new Barrington High School stadium and the approval of two more building projects this week -- a new early learning center and renovations to Barrington Middle School Prairie Campus -- board members worried another large project might be too much to handle at one time.

"We don't want to bite off more than we can chew," said board member Jeff Nordquist.

Board member Cara Richardson said it would be hard between now and November to deliver a compelling message on the need for the new school, especially with more than two months of summer break included.

"I would question if we can get there by November with all the other things going on," Richardson said.

The district tried twice in 2006 to get voters to approve plans for new middle schools to ease crowding. More than 1,000 students now attend each of the middle schools, which were built to house only 750 kids.

In March 2006, voters rejected a $107 million plan to build two new middle schools and renovate the two current middle schools.

Nine months later, a similar but less expensive plan was also rejected.

Board members agreed that when they ask for the money, it's crucial that the issue get approved.

"The last thing we want to do is go 0-for-3 on this issue," Nordquist said.

With talk of a recession looming, board member Sam Oliver said she was concerned about asking people for more money right now.

"The one thing that gives me pause is the whole economic state of the country," she said.

In coming months, the board said it wants to start explaining to the community why a new middle school is needed, so when it does come up for a vote, everyone will be educated on the issue.

"Maybe this is the time to start talking about it a little bit more, to start gaining some momentum," said board member Penny Kazmier.

After this fall, the district's next chance to go to voters would be in the spring of 2009.