After one referendum question passed and one failed, the Niles-Morton Grove school district will not be able to restore the programs it cut; but it now has money to improve its buildings.
Architect Leanne Meyer-Smith of Wight Architects was at Golf Middle School Wednesday, having just stepped out of a special meeting the District 67 school board called after Tuesday's election.
Earlier: One D-67 question fails, one passes
Voters approved one of the two referendum questions the district had placed on the ballot. They okayed $7.9 million for repairs and improvements to the district's two school buildings. The other referendum question, to raise the tax rate for operations, including teacher salaries, technology and programs, failed.
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Meyer-Smith confirmed that the board approved a contract with her firm for drawings and specifications for the repairs to be made. They include $2 million of work at Hynes Elementary and $1.5 million of work at Golf Middle School. A list of repairs to be made can be seen here.
No cuts now, but programs cut earlier won't be reinstated
Prior to the meeting, the district's business manager, Jim Fitton, said the main purpose of the special meeting was to get the architect started on repairs to the buildings.
Asked what effect the passage of one referendum and the failure of another would have on the district, he said that, before Election Day, the district had projected it would not need immediate cuts to programs, but that the cuts made previousy would not be able to be restored.
However, the board may have to make more cuts for next year, he said.
Parent reaction
Tom Sikoral, a parent who had volunteered on the committee in favor of the referendum, said he was happy that at least one referendum question passed.
"I'm really excited they passed the bond one to get facilities improved. They need to be," he said.
"But I'm a little bit disappointed the others didn't pass, because we need to focus on programs and technology."
