ISD 166 continues public outreach for bond referendum, explores four-day school week
With the November election nearing, Cook County School ISD 166 continues public outreach for the proposed bond referendum.
Earlier this spring, the Cook County ISD 166 School Board reviewed and unanimously approved a resolution to move forward with a $36.78 million three-question proposal for Cook County voters in November.
The referendum asks voters to consider three questions that, if approved, will authorize funding to improve safety, security, educational adequacy, and deferred maintenance at the district’s PreK-12 building.
The three questions included in the November bond referendum are:
- Question One requests $24 million for upgraded spaces at the district’s PreK-12 school building, including additional common/flex space, classroom renovations, an additional gymnasium, improved accessibility, building security, and the completion of deferred maintenance.
- Question Two requests $9 million for improvements to the school’s grounds, athletics, and art spaces, including artificial turf for athletics fields, a running track, and updated theater equipment and seating.
- Question Three requests $3.5 million to add an additional gymnasium station to support physical education, athletics, and community recreation.
Superintendent of Cook County Schools Chris Lindholm said question two is contingent upon question one passing. Question three is contingent upon both questions one and two passing. In the past week, the school released preliminary concept drawings on the VikingsVision.org website depicting the proposed facility improvements.
“They are conceptual,” said Lindholm. “They’re obviously not, you know, the written plan because we haven’t done that yet. It gives people an idea of what it might look like.”
Concept renderings for proposed bond referendum:
As the school undergoes facility upgrades, Lindholm said school enrollment has increased. During the 2023-24 school year, 426 students enrolled in k-12. This school year, the number has risen to 438.
“And 478 students when you add in preschool,” Lindholm said. “So it’s great to see the growth.”
In combination with bond referendum discussions and long-term financial planning, the ISD 166 School Board reviewed the preliminary levy during the Sept. 19 meeting. Lindholm said that rather than an increase in the preliminary levy, Cook County residents will see a decrease of 8.94 percent.
The reason, Lindholm said, is the retirement of bond debt. “So what we’ll see in the board packet is a 9 percent drop in the levy. And then, if the referendum passes, obviously, that drop in the levy won’t take place. It will actually go up.”
Learn more about the tax impact of the bond referendum here.
Lindholm said another significant topic the school district is exploring is a four-day school week. In early October, Cook County residents will receive a survey from ISD 166 regarding whether to consider moving to a four-day-per-week school calendar.
“What we want to do is make sure that we’re getting input from parents, from business owners, from community members about whether that’s a unique fit,” Lindholm said. He said several other districts, including Lake Superior School District, serving Two Harbors and Silver Bay, have operated a four-day school week for a long time.
The school will send out the four-day school week survey in the coming weeks.
WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins spoke with Superintendent Chris Lindholm about the proposed bond referendum, preliminary levy, homecoming, and ongoing discussions about the four-day school week. The audio from the interview is below.
Kalli Hawkins October 1, 2024
