Community Consolidated School District 89 Board of Education voted Sept. 17 to place a referendum measure on the Feb. 5 election ballot.

The board will ask District 89 voters permission to issue $24.8 million in bonds to be paid over 13 years at the current tax rate.

Since September 2006, the School Board has been studying reports and data determining improvements needed in each of the district's school buildings, what the upgrade costs would be and how much the community would be willing to invest in their schools.

Superintendent John Perdue said the money borrowed from the bond, if approved by voters, would finance roof replacements at all schools, parking lot repairs, new boilers, life-safety improvements, asbestos removal and air conditioning in all schools.

Other improvements would include window replacements, safety improvements, lighting upgrades and mechanical, electrical and plumbing improvements.

The amount earmarks $1.5 million for technology infrastructure, including fiber optics.

All of the district's five schools will be affected, and all schools will benefit, Perdue said.

The referendum would request the tax rate to be restored to the 1997 level, when the last district bond was issued, of .21 cents per $100 in assessed value.

Perdue said the overall district tax rate would stay at the current level and likely decrease when factoring in the equalized assessed value and the district would be paying the debt for 13 years.

Board member Gene Glaudell said his rule of thumb is, "What does it mean for my house? It's difficult to translate tax rate and EAV."

The benefit of the proposal is that there are no surprises for homeowners; the tax rate would be comparable to what they are seeing now, Glaudell said.

The board also approved a plan to begin early engineering work, to be ready to get bids and begin construction as soon as the bond is passed.

The more quickly projects progress, the more potential cost savings from projected inflation, Patrick Brosnan of Legat Architects in Oak Brook advised the board.

Perdue commended the board for its prudent fiscal management.

"The district has a long history of living within its means," Perdue said.

Glaudell noted the board had been working toward the referendum decision for 14 months.

"I'm confident when we go out and talk to the people they will understand why we made the decision," Glaudell said.

After the unanimous "yes" vote by the board to place the referendum measure on the ballot, Board President Lori Gaspar summarized the decision for the public.

"I want to explain what has just happened here," she said.

Gaspar said the board has made the decision to ask permission from the voters to issue $24.8 million in bonds to be paid in 13 years.

Gaspar said with taxpayer approval, by borrowing and spreading the major cost over time, the district's educational programs would not be compromised.

"I feel good that we are not extending debt and not burdening future (School Boards)," she said.

Gaspar said the board had studied all the reports and surveys and determined the community was not ready to support a $27 million bond.

"The board has done its job very well," Gaspar said.

The board now needs to inform the voters, so that they will become advocates of the bond, she said.

Comments from the audience included District 89 parent and Facilities Committee member Tim Loversky of Glen Ellyn.

Loversky said he is excited with the direction the district is headed. He is confident his son and daughter will be in modern facilities as they go through school in District 89.

Loversky is a principal in Carpentersville and said he applauded the board's courage and power to move forward, knowing how difficult it is to ask the voters for money.

"You've done the right thing," Loversky said.

Andy Keil of Glen Ellyn, co-chairman of the Facilities Committee, talked about the considerations for building improvements.

"These are not frivolous things," Keil said.

They include life safety features, roofs and boilers, things necessary for a responsible safe learning environment, Keil said.

Perdue said the board has learned a lot about the environment in schools.

"The environment affects learning," Perdue said.