Naperville District 203 to build new transportation center

Naperville Unit District 203 school board members have given the green light to dipping into the district’s fund balance for a new transportation center.

Board members voted 6-1 on Monday to approve the project, estimated to cost $14.8 million to $17.4 million.

Melissa Kelley Black cast the only dissenting vote, saying the board should take a “thoughtful pause” to consider other options and the effect the expenditure may have on the district’s overall budget.

“I’m not saying never,” she said. “I’m asking, should it be now?”

Longtime board member Kristine Gericke, however, said the district has long considered improvements to the transportation center. But the project has been delayed until now, she said.

“I just don’t see how we could possibly put this off any longer,” she said. “We’re beyond Band-Aids at this point.”

Superintendent Dan Bridges said a trailer that had been used for staff and office space has long outlived its life span and had to be shut down as problems continued to emerge. As a result, the district is leasing office space across the street along 5th Street.

The center had four restrooms and was used by five office staff, a mechanic and 115 bus drivers. Staff noted that bus drivers were typically in and out of the building at least four times a day.

The district will dip into its fund balance to cover project costs.

At a June meeting, the district estimated its fund balance to be about $25 million, or roughly 28% of the district’s annual budget. The district’s policy requires an end-of-year fund balance to be at least 10% to 20% of annual aggregated expenses.

The district can use excess fund balance to cover one-time expenses, such as a construction project or taxpayer relief.

Concept plans for the new transportation center showed 6,000 square feet for a garage and 4,000 square feet for an office with restrooms. It also includes additional parking for buses and employee vehicles.