Community Update from the Board
August 17, 2022
August 17, 2022
Dear Friends, Colleagues and Community Members,
We are eagerly awaiting the reopening of our schools next week for the start of the 2022/2023 school year. As we prepare for a new year together, we wanted to share some important news following last night’s School Board Meeting.
The Winnetka Public Schools’ Board approved a resolution to move forward with placing a $59.4MM referendum on the November 8, 2022 ballot to support the District’s Downsized Capital Improvement Plan. If this referendum should pass, it would fund the following work at our schools:
Updated safety components, including secure entry vestibules
Upgraded HVAC systems to improve air quality, air flow, temperature control and energy efficiency
Accessibility for all students, staff and visitors that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Electrical wiring and panel upgrades to support technology and improve energy efficiency
Plumbing replacements to address fixtures that have reached the end of their useful life
The addition of a multipurpose room/cafeteria at Hubbard Woods
Removal of the temporary trailers at Crow Island and the subsequent addition of three permanent classrooms
Repurposing of the current gym to serve as a multipurpose room/cafeteria and the subsequent addition of a gym at Crow Island
Extension of the useful life of existing facilities and proactive reduction of costly emergency repairs
Prior to voting on a resolution for this referendum, the Board and Administration invested in a full year of gathering research and reviewing public opinion data. Feedback was gathered at numerous community outreach meetings in January - March of 2022. A Citizens Task Force was formed to provide targeted feedback and recommendations to the Board and Administration in consideration of a Downsized Capital Improvement Proposal, which was recommended as the plan to be supported by the Board in May 2022.
The exact language that will appear on the November 8 ballot is as follows:
Shall the Board of Education of Winnetka School District Number 36, Cook County, Illinois, alter, repair and equip all existing school buildings; construct Health/Life Safety Code improvements, secure entry vestibules and additional safety and accessibility improvements under the Americans with Disabilities Act; replace flooring, plumbing, HVAC and electrical systems; remove temporary trailers, renovate the multi-purpose room/cafeteria and library/resource center and build and equip a three-classroom and gymnasium addition at the Crow Island School Building; build and equip a multi-purpose room/cafeteria addition at the Hubbard Woods School Building; improve sites; and issue bonds of said School District to the amount of $59,400,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?
Fact Sheets detailing the proposed improvements at each school are linked here (as well as available in hard copy form at each building):
Summary of Proposed Improvements at Each School
We encourage you to learn more about the referendum at one of the following informational sessions:
Virtual:
Tuesday, September 13 at 6:30 p.m. (Zoom details to follow)
In person:
Wednesday, September 21 at 6:30 p.m. (Crow Island School--followed by tour)
Saturday, October 8 from 9-10 a.m. (Hubbard Woods School--followed by tour)
Monday, October 17 at 9:30 a.m. (Crow Island School)
Wednesday, October 19 at 6:30 p.m. (Hubbard Woods School--followed by tour)
Wednesday, October 26 at 6:30 p.m. (Crow Island School--followed by tour)
Virtual:
Tuesday, November 1 at noon (Zoom details to follow)
Enjoy the remaining days of summer break, and we look forward to connecting with you on this topic as the school year is underway.
Respectfully,
Ms. Emily Rose
School Board President
Dr. Kelly Tess
Superintendent of Schools