Endorsement: Yes on construction plan for Itasca Elementary Dist. 10

Itasca Elementary District 10 is seeking voter approval to borrow $26.98 million for an ambitious construction plan.

The list of projects includes building more secure school entrances and making mechanical, electrical and plumping improvements. The plan also calls for constructing new science labs and modernizing the library centers.

An addition at Raymond Benson Primary School would accommodate future enrollment increases and give the district the option of expanding a prekindergarten program.

If the referendum is approved, the owner of a $300,000 house - the average in Itasca - would pay an additional $324 a year in property taxes to the district.

While times are difficult because of the pandemic, officials say the district won't issue bonds until after the economy starts recovering. So the tax levy won't be affected until 2022.

Officials say the time to act is now because the district would receive favorable bond rates. It also would get more bang for its buck by doing the projects all at once.

We believe the district's plan would benefit students at a reasonable cost. We support a yes vote.