After 18 years since voters last approved funding for school improvements, the District 204 Bond referendum, “Safer, Stronger 204,” has successfully passed. This funding proposal will enhance safety and security measures, infrastructure improvements, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance.
The funding proposal election results showed that 73.69% of voters said yes compared to the 26.31% who said no. In a message sent by Superintendent Dr. Adrian Talley, he expressed his gratitude to all those who participated in getting this passed.
“ The overall pass rate of 74% reflects our community’s strong trust, commitment, and belief in what we are doing in ensuring that we continue to provide high-quality education while making the critical improvements needed now and in the future,” Talley said.
District 204 has effectively managed its debt from previous loans taken out for school improvements by paying them off, which has allowed it to free up space in its budget. As a result, even with plans to borrow $420 million, the district will not increase property taxes, which is to prevent tax burden on residents.
Several priority projects are focused on improving specific schools, including Hill Middle School, Waubonsie High School, and Gregory Middle School, due to their infrastructure issues. Extensive renovations will be undertaken at these schools. However, every school within the district will benefit from this funding. There will be updates along the way as plans begin to finalize.
“We look forward to working with our community as we begin implementing these projects,” Talley said. “We will provide updates at future Board of Education meetings regarding the work that will be started this summer and future work.”
For more information on this visit 204 referendum.
