.FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
about the March 20, 2012 Bond Proposal
Note: Interactive links are associated with text in the table and questions below that is highlighted with bold, italics, and underlined
What is on the March 20, 2012 ballot?
What is the taxpayer impact of this bond proposal?
A schedule of the referendum tax impact for home market values ranging from $100,000 to $1,000,000 shows the estimated additional annual tax at between $27 and $327. According to the 2010 Census, the median value of a home in our community is $395,000 and $126 is the estimated additional annual tax for a home with that value based on an estimated tax rate of ten (10) cents. Important Note: property taxes associated with District 65's successful March 2000 referendum expired with the 2010 levy. The estimated annual tax impact for the 2012 referendum is less than that associated with the 2000 referendum. On an annual basis, homeowners will pay less for this referendum than for the prior referendum.
Why do we need additional space?
District 65’s enrollment data (including a report from an internationally known demographer) show that student enrollment is projected to continue to grow for the next several years. District 65's actual student enrollments exceeded the projection numbers in recent years. Additionally, the City of Evanston has residential development plans that have the potential for an increasing number of students attending our schools.
Most District 65 schools were built prior to 1960; many have small classrooms that cannot comfortably accommodate the district’s class size guidelines. But, why build a new school rather than just focus on solving the middle school capacity needs? Building a school and adding on to the middle schools is a more complete solution. It avoids a piece-meal approach to the District's capacity needs. And, these economic times are well-positioned for new construction. Interest rates and bidding prices should be very
favorably competitive.
Why Build the School in the Central Core?
Neighborhood schools that support families and the community is one of the core values of the District’s five-year strategic plan developed in 2009. The Central Core is a community with a concentration of students but does not have a neighborhood school. In 2010 the School Board established a committee to determine the feasibility of a new school. This committee spent one year reviewing background information before bringing its recommendation to the Board of Education in support of constructing a new school within the Central Core of Evanston.
New "High Tech STEM Centers" at Haven and Nichols (bottom image) are planned to have eight additional teaching stations (2 learning studios + 6 STEM Labs) with access at the roof level from one STEM Lab to do outdoor experiments, monitor solar and wind devices and have access to a green roof. The addition at Haven includes a multi-use space that can be used for specialized curriculum activities and at Nichols, a new music studio is part of the addition. At Nichols, this takes the place of the existing music studio adjacent to the cafeteria that will be remodeled into additional seating space for dining.
Eight classrooms will be added to Nichols Middle School; and eight classrooms will be added to Haven Middle School. The science labs at Chute, Nichols, Haven, and King Lab Schools will be updated to STEM labs that support 21st century and college and career readiness standards for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Locker rooms will be constructed for Bessie Rhodes Magnet School. All District 65 middle and magnet
schools were built more than 40 years ago. Planned classroom additions, new and redesigned science labs, secure entrances, and other planned projects will optimize instructional space and make much-needed upgrades to these aging buildings.
How do other schools in the district benefit from the referendum?
District 65's schools range in age from more than 100 years to just under 50 years old. (Click here to see date of construction for District 65 schools.) And, District 65 has made a significant investment over the past decade to improve its facilities, and perform scheduled repairs and maintenance. The District developed a five-year capital and life-safety schedule with projects identified for every District 65 school. And, while referendum dollars are not earmarked
for all of these listed projects, a successful referendum improves the district’s ability to address more of the capital and life safety projects districtwide. To view a summary of identified life safety and capital projects for each of the district's elementary schools, click here. Click to view a list of identified life safety and capital projects for
each of the district's middle and magnet schools.
What are some of the features of the new school?
The proposed design is for an 18-classroom K-5 school building to include features that support community services and activities beyond the school day. The school is planned to include a state-of-the art library media center, science labs to support STEM, a gymnasium, boys' and girls' locker rooms, an art studio, a music studio and a performing arts stage. District 65 owns property located at Foster Field that is currently leased by the City of
Evanston. And notice was given of the intent to construct a new school on that property. TMP Architecture developed preliminary renderings to show how the school might look and to demonstrate that open space for community use would remain at Foster Field.
What about the demographic makeup of the new K-5 school?
The new school is a choice school. This means that families of K-5 children living within the attendance area of the school will have a preference to attend this new school or to attend their current attendance-area school. Enrollment preference will be given to K-5 children living in areas marked as 1, 2a, 2b, and 3 on the attached map. Also, students from across the district may also apply to attend and will be selected to attend based upon available space. The attached table presented to the School Board last December shows the number of students, by current serving school, who live in the overlay attendance area and would be given
permission to attend the new school in the Central Core.
Do the parents in the 5th Ward want a new school?
In the Spring of 2010, 247 families of school-age children residing in the 5th Ward participated in a telephone survey conducted by a surveyor from the ECRA Group. The vast majority of parents said they were satisfied with the schools their children currently attend and believe their children are receiving a quality education. For some questions, responses were split. Half of the parents felt it is important for their children to be able to walk to school. Also, half felt that their children’s participation in after-school events would probably increase if the attendance school was closer to home.
Parents were open to the idea of a new school but felt the need for more detailed information about what is being proposed. Of those who commented, the vast majority said they would like the district to provide more detailed plans for what is being considered so they can make an informed choice regarding the new school. Some recognize there could be benefits to a new school in the 5th Ward, especially in the area of transportation where the length of the bus routes was expressed as a concern. You can view the survey report online.
Why will this new school be successful?
This school will build upon the successes seen for students across the District. An analysis comparing District 65 student achievement across schools in the district showed similar achievement across the district in reading or math at fourth and fifth grade for low income students (FRL), no matter which District 65 school they attend. With only a few exceptions (where low-income students at one school had significantly higher scores than
low-income students in some of the other elementary schools), this same pattern is true in reading and mathematics at the third grade as well. District 65 student achievement also shows that our students' scores are higher than those of their peers across the state. The District’s annual reports on student achievement have presented statistics showing steady academic improvement for all of its students over time. Click here for more information. Building a new school enables parents, students, and others in the neighborhood served by the school to build a culture of high expectations for its students, to develop effective and nurturing home school relationships
with the teachers, principal, staff and parents, and to create partnerships with the community to make the school a hub of community services and neighborhood activities.
What is the busing impact?
More than 475 elementary-aged students residing in the 5th Ward of Evanston are eligible to ride the bus to their current school of attendance. Students living in the 5th Ward represent less than ten percent of the district's student population, but are approximately one-third of those eligible to ride the bus. If these students enroll in the new school, many will be able to walk to school. Beyond the positive impact this has for community-building, there is also a potential cost savings to the district if the number of buses is reduced.
How will the referendum improve the district's instructional programs?
For the new school, a community visioning process will help identify the instructional program that ensures a high degree of academic success for students. Features such as extended day, extended year, and enrichment to enhance the classroom experiences will be explored. A high priority will be placed on parental involvement and home school relations. Participation in after school programs and activities that bring the community together in supporting and affirming teachers and students will be emphasized. A balanced program that emphasizes the critical areas of science, technology, engineering, and math with literacy and the fine arts is envisioned. Building a new school provides the opportunity to create a state of the art school learning
environment to support the new priorities emerging in the national educational agenda.
At the middle schools, upgraded science labs will enable the district’s instructional program to embrace the new directions in college and career readiness related to the important areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Is there an economic benefit to the community?
New construction offers an economic benefit to the entire community, and particularly for local businesses and contractors. Nicholas & Associates prepared an economic impact analysis that shows an estimated 285 jobs created by direct employment and numerous local supplies, vendors, and contractors to be positively affected by the construction of a new school.
Can the district complete all documented capital projects needs through the Debt Service Extension Base without going to referendum?
As illustrated by the attached tables (A and B) even by limiting the scope of capital projects work the district's funding capacity is stressed. Table A models funding capital projects through the DSEB only. To meet the estimated available DSEB, some projects were reduced from Table A including Asbestos abatement, life safety identified/infrastructure planning, secure entrances, and facility projects. The total estimated capital project cost for
Chart A is $43,369,000. Table A estimates the DSEB will be depleted leaving a balance of only $431,000 after funding projects through 2016.
Table B models funding capital projects and building additions (Haven & Nichols) through the DSEB only. After reducing Asbestos abatement, Facility projects, Technology, and eliminating identified/ infrastructure planning projects and secure entrances, there is not enough estimated DSEB to cover estimated projects at $57,434,526. Table B estimates a $13,184,526 deficit after the 2016 projects.
Does the referendum enable the district to more easily address capital project needs?
Table C models funding capital projects, including building additions (Haven & Nichols), through the DSEB and Referendum funds, with a total estimated cost of $82,077,015. Table C estimates a balance of only $22,985 at the end of 2016. Additionally, the attached Master Building Work Plan includes the
Standardization Report from March 11, 2010, the Five-Year Work (Facility) Plan from May 10, 2010, Life Safety Identified/Infrastructure Planning projects from February 3, 2012, and Roofing and Masonry estimates from February 3, 2012. District 65 has identified a number of capital projects to be addressed districtwide.
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