"The check came in the mail Friday," said Altmayer. "We called the bank to tell them we were bringing it right over," said Altmayer drily.
Superintendent John Burkey said administrators have spent all Summer discussing in broad-brush terms how to use the money since the CDB said it would finally make good on a 2003 promise to pay half the cost of the District's Square Barn Campus and Marlowe School. The District ended up issuing bonds for all of it when the grants never came through.
Burkey said about 2/3 of the new money will probably go toward retiring that debt but the other 1/3 will probably go toward expansion at Huntley High where enrollment's expected to increase 50 percent in the next five years. "We're preparing to report on that next month," he said.
In the pic: D158's Square Barn Campus, part of what last week's $39.4 million grant would have paid for in 2005.
9 comments:
How about all of to retiring debt?
And none to expansion!
you are right. Retire all debt and help the taxpayers.Enrollment is down, you do not need more room.Shouldn't a large portion of this be put aside for the under paid, over worked teachers? Im sure they want some even though it isn't for them.
Enrollment is not down at the high school. Increasing enrollment will continue for a couple years. The lower grades have leveled off, but there is no pattern of decline.
The lower grades have declined from the level they were when the higher grades were younger. There may be a temporary increase in enrollment but it will start to decline after 5 or so years. The "50%" enrollment increase was probably the pace that was set before the recession
The HS cannot accomodate the influx of students that are in grade schools right now, the district is bottom heavy. Where do you want to put these kids in 5-7 years?
Since Michael Laird is an active member of District 158 Financial Advisory Committee, I tend to believe his informed statements concerning the state of enrollment over those of anonymous posters.
The High School as it stands today can not handle the number of students that are currently enrolled in the lower grades within the district.
For those who think enrollment has declined, here is a link with the facts:
http://iirc.niu.edu/District.aspx?source=About_Students&source2=Enrollments&districtID=44063158022&level=D
Something needs to be done regarding size of the high school. It is growing beyond what the administration is capable of handling and increasing the size is not going to help. They are already dealing with issues way beyond their control,including bullying, drug abuse, violence, and hazing, and the continued denial is not helping anyone. The school needs to be split. Use this money to plan a second location for high school students.
"The District ended up issuing bonds for all of it when the grants never came through."
How exactly does a school district go about issuing bonds when the State fails to provide grant money in a timely fashion? What type of bonds were issued and is voter approval required?
Post a Comment