Following more than three years of community engagement work, including small and large group public meetings and three surveys, the Elmhurst District 205 Board of Education voted 7-0 to place a $168.5 million facilities bond referendum on the November 6, 2018 ballot.

“We were elected to lead our community and oversee its investment in our schools. The Board does not take this responsibility lightly. The potential of this referendum extends far and long beyond this generation of students and is larger than this board and school leadership. The future of our schools belongs to the community,” D205 Board President Kara Caforio said.

Superintendent Dr. David Moyer underscored the importance of collaboration in the process, “I am extremely proud of the work of my administrative team, the Board, teachers, staff, and community to advance the vision of ensuring that all students graduate college, career, and life ready. Together, we have worked very hard to facilitate the development of a Master Facilities Plan and a referendum question that we believe is the right thing for D205.”

The $168.5 million plan addresses needs at all 13 D205 schools. The estimated tax impact will be approximately $150 per year in additional taxes on a $500,000 home.

If the plan is approved by voters on Election Day on November 6, 2018, D205 committees that include architects, construction experts, administrators, parents, staff, and community members will help guide the implementation of the Master Facilities Plan and Referendum goals.

What is on the November Ballot for Students?

Improvements identified in the D205 Master Facilities Plan include:

• Rebuilding 103-year-old Lincoln ­­Elementary School

• Rebuilding 87-year-old Field Elementary School

• Providing security updates to the entrance and main offices of Emerson, Fischer, Sandburg, Bryan, Churchville, ­­Jackson, and Jefferson schools

• Creating Future-Focused learning spaces for students that will enhance science, technology, engineering, & math (STEM)

• Providing classroom space for optional, all-day kindergarten programming.

• Enhancing districtwide technology infrastructure.

• Adding or updating air conditioning and other HVAC systems at Jackson and Jefferson elementary schools

• Renovating aging buildings including:

  • Creating age-appropriate facilities at Madison Early Childhood Center.

  • Renovating and expanding Edison Elementary School

  • Building an auditorium at Churchville Middle School, to ensure all D205 middle schools have similar performance areas.

  • Adding a classroom and stage at Fischer Elementary, to ensure all D205 elementary schools have similar classroom spaces and performance areas.

  • Renovating the auditorium to meet safety expectations at York High School as well as continuing athletic field and school land improvements.

  • Acquiring a new space for the Transition Program, further ensuring success for students with disabilities post-high school.​​​​​​​

How will the Ballot Question Read?

The D205 ballot question reads as follows:

Shall the Board of Education of Elmhurst Community Unit School District Number 205, DuPage and Cook Counties, Illinois, build and equip two school buildings to replace the Field and Lincoln Elementary School Buildings; build and equip additions to and alter, repair and equip existing buildings, including but not limited to improving security, providing STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) facilities, improving energy-efficiency and technology infrastructure and adding classrooms for full-day kindergarten; improve sites; acquire, improve and equip a building for educational purposes and acquire the site thereof and issue bonds of said School District to the amount of $168,500,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?