Yes in Gurnee District 56

Federal emergency officials call Gurnee Grade School one of the most flood-prone structures in Illinois hardly a distinction any parent would want for a school.

At times, children have had to be evacuated. Planning for an evacuation is a massive undertaking, as is sandbagging the school at a cost of $300,000.

And a school that floods presents certain health hazards. For these reasons, voters in Gurnee Elementary District 56 are being asked to let officials borrow about $28.5 million to build a new school in Wadsworth to replace Gurnee Grade. The referendum campaign has been less than forthcoming. The proponents' slogan “Vote Yes Still Pay Less” is misleading.

Yes, the timing would coincide with the retirement of other debt. But the referendum would drag out the district's debt, negating a potentially significant savings to taxpayers down the road. That said, the need is there, and the current economic climate could translate into more competitive bidding on the project. We recommend voters say YES.