Schools

Palatine's D-15 Grapples with Referendum Issue

District 15 Superintendent Scott Thompson said he will recommend the district spend less than it is asking voters for.

Although a November referendum would authorize Community Consolidated School District 15 to issue up to $27 million in bonds, Superintendent Scott Thompson said a lower figure is needed.

Thompson said at Sept. 15 school board meeting that he would recommend the board issue no more than $16 million in bonds to be used solely for capital improvements, such as new roofs at schools, should the referendum pass.

The bonds have been a hot topic in District 15 for months. The consideration by the school board to issue the bonds–$17 million for capital improvements and $10 million for a working cash fund–spurred public opposition.

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Thompson's recommendation essentially would drop the working cash fund portion of the bond issue and keep most of the proposed capital improvements, including replacing 11 roofs.

The cost to taxpayers would be about $15.12 more a year in property taxes for the owner of a home valued at $220,000, Thompson said.

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Board member Sue Quinn, a critic of the bond issue from the beginning, said the matter will have to be revisited should voters approved the referendum.

"I think doing 11 roofs in three years is not sound planning," Quinn said, noting that the district will face having to replace all of the roofs in the future in a short time frame. "This is not a sound plan. We need to be more prudent and schedule some of these things out."

The bond issue was forced to the ballot after a petition drive led by Palatine residents. The petition drive was successful, attracting more than 7,500 signatures. The school board considered, but ultimately decided against, pulling the issue off the ballot.

In the midst of the controversy, District 15 Superintendent Daniel Lukich abruptly resigned June 30. As part of the separation agreement with the district, Lukich will be paid $185,000 through 2011.

Thompson began in July.

One of the issues critics had with the original $27 million bond issue was that it would have required District 15 to reissue existing debt, resulting in additional interest and penalties. This would have been necessary because District 15 is close to its debt limit.

Thompson said his recommendation is for a straight-forward bond issue that does not include creative financing. One reason is that such financial maneuvers no longer would be needed. Voter approval would mean that the debt limit would not apply to the new bond issue.

Thompson said his list of capital projects is being pulled from the district's 10-year life safety plan.

"These are necessary things that the district needs to take care of," Thompson said.

Thompson also said that the district would be able to take advantage of low interest rates and would use Build America Bonds, which include a rebate. The deadline to use Build America Bonds is Dec. 31.


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