CHAMPAIGN — Voters will decide in November whether Champaign’s Unit 4 school district can move forward on a $192 million plan for major school improvements across the district.
The referendum, “Building Better Schools,” aims to address the district’s facility needs and is based on community input and years of facility studies and enrollment projections, according to the district.
Unit 4 has seen a consistent increase in enrollment rates in recent years. Administrators say the district’s middle schools are overcrowded and in need of updates and expansions.
Dave Mast, principal of Franklin STEAM Academy, says the referendum would allow his school to be completely rebuilt. The building hasn’t had major renovations since its construction in 1953.
“Anybody who comes in … they’re going to be able to see exactly the same kinds of conditions, same needs, and what we need to do as a community to build better schools for our students,” he said.
Middle school upgrades
International Prep Academy’s existing 6-8 building, built in 1958, would also be torn down and its K-5 building would be expanded to bring all IPA students under one roof.
Jefferson Middle School would get heavy renovations – to eliminate the use of modular trailer classrooms and improve building security and accessibility.
A new middle school would also be added to relieve district-wide middle school overcrowding and eliminate the need for rented modular trailer classrooms.
The district says annual tax rates won’t increase as a result of the “Building Better Schools” referendum, as funds would come from debt service capacity created as existing bonds are paid off.
According to officials, the district’s current bonds, which were approved in the last referendum in 2016, are set to expire. Voter approval would allow the district to keep those bonds and take on more debt to fund the renovations and new construction.
Officials say funding will also go toward improving special education facilities and upgrading the geothermal system at Garden Hills Academy.
An invitation to the community
The district is inviting community members to tour Franklin STEAM Academy, International Prep Academy and Jefferson Middle School to see the current conditions of the schools and learn more about the proposed improvements.
“I’m excited to have people come in with fresh eyes… to be able to go back out into the community [and] be able to share what they saw,” Mast said.
Franklin hosted the first tour last weekend; other middle schools will each host at least two weekend tours between now and Nov. 1.
About a dozen parents and community members turned out for the Franklin tour on Sunday, Sept. 20.
Among them was Champaign resident Jamie Lyons, who has a first grader in Unit 4.
“I was encouraged to check out the middle schools, check out what’s going on, especially so that we could be informed when the vote comes up,” she said.
Lyons said she plans to vote in support of the referendum because “kids are going to need room to grow, and if this town, or this city, is going to grow, we need space to grow with it.”
The full referendum on the midterm ballot reads:
Shall the Board of Education of Champaign Community Unit School District Number 4, Champaign County, Illinois, build and equip a new middle school building; alter, repair and equip the Jefferson Middle School Building; demolish the existing Franklin STEAM Academy Building and build and equip a new Franklin STEAM Academy Building on that site; demolish the sixth through eighth grade International Prep Academy Building and build and equip a sixth through eighth grade addition to and alter, repair and equip the kindergarten through fifth grade International Prep Academy Building; alter, repair and equip the Garden Hills Academy Building, including improving its geothermal HVAC system; improve special education facilities; improve school sites; and acquire land; and issue bonds of said School District to the amount of $192,000,000 for the purpose of paying costs thereof?
Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.