D-207 To Hold Referendum Information School Tours Ahead Of Vote

PARK RIDGE, IL — Maine Township High School District 207 is offering a series of tours of school facilities to residents over the coming weeks in order to explain how money would be spent if an upcoming referendum is approved. The district announced 15 "referendum information school tours" aimed at giving voters an opportunity answer questions about the $195 million bond referendum set for the Nov. 6 ballot.

If approved, the 20-year bond measure would cost taxpayers about $91 per $100,000 of the assessed value of a a home, according to the district. For a homeowner with a $300,000 house, that means the tax impact of the referendum would involve paying an extra $273 a year.

The $240.7 million in improvements across Maine East, Maine West and Maine South would also be funded by $45.7 million in reserves. It's the first time voters have been asked to approve a bond for school buildings since 1973, according to the district. Currently, facilities at D-207 high schools do not compare favorably with fellow Central Suburban League member schools, according to Superintendent Ken Wallace

"District 207's total facilities are easily the furthest behind in terms of quality and design due to the roughly 50 years that the district has waited to ask taxpayers to support updating the building," Wallace wrote to the board, recommending voters be asked about the facilities upgrades. "

According to Wallace, changes to facilities are needed to create a "secure environment that is more conducive to contemporary teaching and learning." Entrances and exits do not meet modern standards for school security, the cafeteria is outdated and many other areas require improvements, he recommended last month. The District 207 school board passed a resolution Aug. 6 placing the referendum on the ballot.

The district also provided a fact sheet about the referendum plan with a list of improvements for each of its high schools. For instance: Maine East would see updated restrooms, an added elevator, relocating the dance program and re-purposing the old pool; Maine West would have a new field house, a commercial food lab and updated food service area, restrooms and locker rooms; and Maine South would add business presentation rooms, additional athletic space, new performing arts storage and eliminate the need for students to walk outside to access part of the school.

“One of our main goals is to ensure that residents can get the information they need, as well as have their questions answered with relation to the ballot question,” Wallace said, announcing the school tours.

The building tours are set for the following dates and times. As part of each tour, questions from those in attendance will be answered.

• Sept. 7 at 5:45 p.m. – Maine East H.S. (2601 W. Dempster St, Park Ridge)
• Sept. 7 at 6 p.m. – Maine West H.S. (1755 South Wolf Road, Des Plaines)
• Sept. 7 at 6:30 p.m. – Maine South H.S. (1111 South Dee Road, Park Ridge)
• Sept. 21 at 5 p.m. – Maine West H.S.
• Sept. 21 at 6:30 p.m. – Maine South H.S.
• Sept. 27 at 6:30 p.m. – Maine South H.S.
• Sept. 28 at 5:45 p.m. – Maine East H.S.
• Oct. 5 at 5:30 pm.. – Maine East H.S.
• Oct. 10 at 5:30 pm. – Maine West H.S.
• Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. – Maine East H.S.
• Oct. 12 at 6:30 p.m. – Maine South H.S.
• Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. – Maine West H.S.
• Oct. 19 at 5:45 p.m. – Maine East H.S.
• Oct. 19 at 6:30 p.m. – Maine South H.S.
• Oct. 23 at 5:30 p.m. – Maine West H.S.

The district said tours at Maine East, 2601 W. Dempster St. in Park Ridge, would start in Room 230 – on the second floor directly over the main entrance by the tower. Tours at Maine West, 1755 S. Wolf Road in Des Plaines, will begin in the cafeteria. At Maine South, 1111 S. Dee Road in Park Ridge, tours will start at the main entrance.

Find out more from District 207