UPDATE: The referendum question has passed, with 53.26% (1,577) of voters approving of the measure and 46.74% (1,384) of voters disapproving of the measure.
After years of worsening building condition and attempts at vital school improvements, Golf School District 67 will pose a referendum to its stakeholders on sourcing $26 million to complete repairs and renovations for its two buildings via school bonds.
The proposal comes as a result of a 2022 referendum that ultimately failed. In March 2022, the District 67 Board of Education asked its taxpayers for permission to issue $56 million in school bonds to close Hynes Elementary School (built in 1957) and Golf Middle School (1961) to replace them with a new pre-K to eighth grade building.
School bonds are a tool frequently used by Illinois school districts and their boards to raise money for large-scale projects. In short, bonds are a form of debt issued by a district that get purchased by investors. To compensate those investors for offering money upfront, the district will repay them the full value of the bond plus a small amount of interest over a set term. Because issuing debt creates financial risk for a district, voters in Illinois must approve of measures that would raise more than 6.9% of its Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) per an Illinois Association of School Boards article. EAV represents the taxable value of all properties within a town, township, special use district, or in this case, school district.
Of the 2022 proposal, seventh grade mathematics teacher and Niles North volleyball coach Erin Labriola said, “Teachers have generally been supportive of referendums aimed at improving the learning environment… I was very interested in the potential of a single-building model to enhance our students’ learning environment and create a better workspace.” Labriola and other teachers were also given the opportunity to speak with administrators on the proposal: “We discussed the pros and cons of the proposal, but ultimately the focus remained on what would be best for student learning.”
Despite broad teacher support and promotion attempts by the district, 59% of Golf 67 voters rejected the referendum at the Jun. 28, 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election. The failure prompted Superintendent Dr. Susan Coleman to reconsider the district’s approach to the buildings.
Morton Grove residents will now decide this Election Day, Nov. 5, whether to authorize District 67 to issue $26 million in bonds to be repaid over 20 years for smaller improvements at both buildings. Coleman says that “the 2024 referendum request significantly reduces the previous amount asked by over half, reflecting a commitment to financial responsibility while still addressing the essential needs of both school buildings… It prioritizes the necessary improvements without including additional enhancements, emphasizing a minimalist approach to meet core needs.” As such, voters will see the following text on their ballot:
Shall the Board of Education of Golf School District Number 67, Cook County, Illinois, alter, repair and equip the Hynes Elementary and Golf Middle School buildings and improve the sites thereof, including but not limited to improving safety and security, replacing roofs and HVAC systems, removing asbestos, improving accessibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act and eliminating mobile classrooms at Hynes Elementary School, and issue bonds of said School District to the amount of $26,300,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?
Improvements at the Hynes Elementary building will replace damaged roofing that had been costing the district $244,000 each year to repair, per presentations made to the public. Mobile classrooms will be removed, as the plan will split the current library space into 3 special-use classrooms for music education, technology, and a special education satellite classroom in collaboration with Niles Township District for Special Education 807. Library services will be moved into a new, expanded space to support 21st-century learning. The expansion will also allow for administrative space including a reception area, a conference room, storage, and a health office. The space previously taken up by these functions will be replaced with classrooms to make up for the removal of those mobile classrooms.
The district has been less clear about how funding will be used at Golf Middle School, with community presentations only describing asbestos abatement. The slide deck does mention renovations to the school’s existing library and media center, but specifics for that project have not yet been given. Dr. Coleman does say that improvements will include “other essential infrastructure upgrades, including HVAC, leaking roofs, and accessibility enhancements.” The district expects projects at both buildings to cost $32.7 million, with the remaining $8.4 million not covered by the referendum to be funded with a separate series of bonds, District 67’s cash reserves, and $300,000 from the Illinois State Board of Education.
Labriola is excited for the 2024 proposal, writing, “[The referendum] focuses on safety, necessary upgrades, and educational space expansion – all areas that directly impact students’ daily experiences and overall school functionality… This proposal aims to ensure that our schools are safe and accessible.” In addition, the North Suburban Teachers Union Committee on Political Education has donated $7,500 to pro-referendum organizations like Friends of Golf 67.
While teachers appear to mostly be on board, community reactions to the referendum are mixed. Mary Richards, mother of two students at both schools and Niles North social studies instructor, noted the dire need for improvements to district buildings. “Nobody likes the idea of raising taxes, but improving the schools should be seen as an investment in our community and our future. The buildings definitely need improvement and all kids should have access to a safe learning environment. The most recent proposal did take into account some of the concerns of the past ‘no’ voters in order to find a way to meet in the middle,” she remarked.
Fellow proponents George and Melissa Manis also described the district’s current tax levy. In their Oct. 29 letter to the Chicago Tribune, the pair wrote, “Public schools do not charge tuition and rely on funding from tax dollars. Golf 67’s tax rate is among the lowest in the area, limiting its ability to self-fund an undertaking of this magnitude.”
In addition to formal informational sessions hosted by District 67, community members have hosted neighborhood house parties to get the word out. In an Oct. 31 Facebook post, the Friends of Golf 67 group wrote that “these meetings not only informed many more neighbors, but helped them connect to the community and the Vote Yes cause.”
Those who oppose the referendum have been delivering flyers to undecided voters. These flyers offer figures to calculate the eventual raise in taxes caused by the issuance of bonds, summarizing them by writing “$54 per 50k” raise in tax. They also write that the bonds will bring “a perment [sic] tax hike!”
Opponents have also created a website, the Morton Grove Watchdog, where an anonymous community member has started writing blog posts. Their Oct. 25 entry, entitled “Golf School District 67’s $26.3M Question,” summarizes community concerns against the referendum. Per the post, “the district maintains impressive financial reserves while spending 113% more than the state average on administration.” The post also claims that the “community already carries a heavier [financial] burden than most,” citing that 85.3% of funding for District 67 comes from local property taxes as opposed to a state average of 59.6%. The remaining 14.7% comes from state, federal, and private sources.
The tension in Morton Grove will be relieved this Tuesday, Nov. 5th, on Election Day as Golf District 67 stakeholders will vote on the issuance of school bonds. Community members will be able to find results after polls close at the Cook County Clerk’s “Election Night” webpage.
To register to vote in the Nov. 5 Presidential Election, in which this referendum will be decided, please visit the Cook County Clerk’s “Voter Registration” webpage. To learn more about the referendum proposal, please visit Golf District 67’s “A Foundation for the Future” webpage.
