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How was this plan developed?
Over many months in 2024, District 57 continued to look to the community to guide us as we determine the path forward for our schools. We received feedback from almost 800 members of the community through in-person presentations, two online surveys, and a scientific phone survey on what improvements they would like to see in their schools and how they would like us to fund those improvements.
Based on the community’s feedback, District 57 developed a fiscally responsible plan to address these challenges. This plan would expand Westbrook School for Young Learners to make space for state-mandated full-day kindergarten and build a new Lincoln Middle School. The district also worked with our Citizens Finance Advisory Committee to reduce the cost of the plan by $12.1 million using our fund balance and other district funds.
What is included in the plan?
The final consensus $85 million plan will:
- Fulfill the State’s Mandate for Full-Day Kindergarten
- Build a new Lincoln Middle School
- Improve Learning Environments for All Students
- Increase Safety and Security
The referendum would allow the district to fulfill the state’s mandate that we offer full-day kindergarten by 2027. These new classrooms would be located in the Westbrook School for Young Learners addition. Full-day kindergarten would increase academic and social-emotional learning for early learners and potentially provide childcare savings for parents.
The referendum would also build a new Lincoln Middle School to replace the existing 75-year-old building. As well, the referendum would improve learning environments throughout the district, benefiting all students. This includes new larger, modernized classrooms and science labs at Lincoln with improved technology and furniture to accommodate today’s and tomorrow’s learning and instruction. It includes dedicated and more private student resource and support spaces for specialized instruction and related student services, including special education, nursing, speech therapy, reading and math support, and ELL. It also includes dedicated innovative spaces with hands-on learning opportunities including modernized media centers, STEM labs, design and tech experiences, and maker spaces.
The referendum would also further increase safety and security. This means safer and more secure environments for students and teachers including fire sprinklers and tornado shelters at Westbrook and Lincoln. This includes safer, updated, and more accessible schools through investments in infrastructure and mechanicals, including roofs, exterior shell, walls, flooding mitigation, bathroom upgrades, HVAC replacements, and elevators at Lincoln and Westbrook. The referendum would also eliminate the use of mobile classrooms at Westbrook by providing dedicated spaces for art and music.
What are the benefits to students?
Our kids deserve the same quality educational opportunities available to students in neighboring districts. The community’s plan for our schools would provide our early learners a more comprehensive kindergarten experience, which has proven to improve their academic success throughout their entire lives. And it would improve learning environments throughout the district, increasing student achievement and meeting the needs of all students now and into the future.
Why is the referendum necessary?
Mount Prospect School District 57 is a smaller, community-based district where each child receives the personal attention and support they need to succeed as we prepare them for high school and beyond. Our community partners together to inspire every student, every day to reach their full potential.
However, the State of Illinois has put a significant obstacle in our way: we are now required to implement full-day kindergarten by 2027, and we don’t currently have the space or staff to meet this unfunded mandate. All our surrounding districts offer full-day kindergarten—the families in our district deserve the same opportunity for their children.
Our community is also requesting additional improvements they would like to see in our schools. Many classrooms and science labs look the same as they did decades ago, limiting the types of learning and instruction we can provide our students. We don’t have enough student support spaces, and the space we do have isn’t private. Teachers are having to provide one-on-one and small group instruction in hallways and stairwells because of a lack of space. Two of our schools don’t have fire sprinklers. There are accessibility challenges at multiple schools, and our infrastructure and mechanicals continue to age. We don’t have dedicated space for innovative and STEM programming. Art and music students are relegated to mobile classrooms. Our gyms are too small and locker rooms antiquated.
How will the referendum impact my taxes?
We are one of the most fiscally conservative districts in the region, always accomplishing more with less. We spend the least, by far, compared to our peer districts. We operate with a balanced budget every year, with each department prioritizing spending on what will benefit students the most. And we’re very proud of our citizens finance advisory committee, made up of parents, community members, and even former students with financial backgrounds, who actively work with district staff and our board to ensure we’re spending money responsibly.
But with the limited funding available to us compared to our surrounding districts, we are not able to achieve full-day kindergarten or the other improvements desired by the community without additional funding.
Find out your estimated tax impact here.
What is the structure of the proposed referendum bond?
The proposed referendum bonds will be paid back over 25 years with a consistent annual payment. This means that your bond payment will not increase over those 25 years. Consequently, as new property comes into the District, the burden of the annual bond payment will be reduced on current taxpayers.
Why are the impacts of the Mount Prospect Park District and District 57 referendums different?
The difference in impact is due to the relative size of the park district and District 57. District 57’s total Equalized Assessed Valuation is 40% of the size of the park district’s EAV, meaning that District 57’s referendum has less homes and businesses to pay the bonds.
What was the referendum question on the ballot?
To achieve the improvements desired by our community, the Mount Prospect School District 57 Board of Education voted unanimously to place the following referendum question on the ballot in the November 5, 2024 general election:
“Shall the Board of Education of Mount Prospect School District Number 57, Cook County, Illinois, build and equip a new middle school building, build and equip additions to and alter, repair and equip existing buildings and facilities, including constructing space for full-day kindergarten, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) labs and music and art programs, eliminating mobile classrooms, improving classrooms and student support spaces, constructing school safety and security improvements and installing updated fire protection systems, improving mechanical systems, roofs, bathrooms and elevators, increasing gymnasium space and improving food service and multipurpose spaces, improve school sites, and issue bonds of said School District to the amount of $85,000,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?”
Who can vote and where can I register to vote?
A voter in the November 5th election must be a U.S. citizen, 18 years old by election day, and a resident of your precinct at least 30 days prior to election day. You must be a registered voter, and you may register to vote online through the Illinois State Board of Elections website.
What are the different ways to vote?
You can vote by mail. You may now request a vote-by-mail application HERE.
You can vote early. Limited early voting begins at all five Cook County Circuit Courthouse locations and downtown Chicago (69 W. Washington St.) from Oct. 9 to Nov. 4 and at permanent sites from Oct. 21 to Nov. 4. Click HERE for early voting locations.
You can vote in person on election day, Nov. 5. Click HERE to find your polling place location.
Will bonds approved by the referendum be used to cover salaries and benefits?
No. Bonds will only be used to fund needed infrastructure projects. By law, these funds must only be used for that purpose because referendum language is legally binding. We will continue to fund salaries and benefits out of our standard operating budget. Any funds approved by the community for their schools will be 100% invested in improving our school infrastructure.