Frequently Asked Questions

The plan addresses needs identified in a facilities assessment conducted in 2020. It reflects community and staff priorities including improving safety and security, completing essential repairs that will extend the life of the existing building, adding eight classrooms and two science labs to address educational needs, and elevators to improve accessibility for students, staff, and visitors. The library and cafeteria, which all students use, will be relocated and reconfigured.

Planning began early in 2020 when the District created a Strategic Planning Team that met approximately 15 times. This group was charged with identifying strengths, threats, and opportunities, reviewing data, and setting priorities for the District. The 29 members of the Strategic Planning Team included teachers, parents, students, community members, village officials, board members, administrators and students. Arlana Bedard of CEC led the Strategic Planning process. Community updates were provided at Board Meetings, on the website, and via District communications. Learn more about the process here https://www.urs86.org/strategic-plan/index 

The aging building and lack of space were identified as a “threat” and a sub-committee referred to as the Steering Committee was formed to identify limitations and concerns related to the school building. Members of that team were familiar with the building and the educational needs of students. Our architect, ARCON Associates, worked closely with the committee and provided information about the condition of the building and opportunities for improvements. Findings and recommendations were shared at Public Board Meetings. 

The ballot question will read as follows:

Shall the Board of Education of Union Ridge School District Number 86, Cook County, Illinois, build and equip additions to and alter, repair, and equip the District's school building and improve the site thereof and issue bonds of said School District to the amount of $35,000,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?

In order to keep the budget as low as possible and minimize the impact on taxpayers, not every issue in the existing building can be addressed. The existing building will be brought up to code including the washrooms and adding elevators to improve accessibility for students, staff, and visitors.

A second gathering plaza is planned on the west side of the building near the new main entry. The existing plaza will remain and the school will retain the option to continue to use existing entries if necessary. Safety and security were high priorities when the new entrance was designed. Relocating the main entrance and creating a secure double vestibule will allow visitors to be properly screened before they enter the building and improve traffic flow.

The mission of Union Ridge School is to educate students so they achieve their personal best and become responsible citizens. The District recognizes that while there is never a good time to put a referendum on the ballot, additional funding is needed to keep our students safe and maintain educational programming. 

Low-income families and students receive free or reduced lunch and may qualify for a number of other programs including Head Start, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), and Medicaid. Additional funds may be available for foster, homeless, and migrant families.

The District cannot share details about the addresses of students. Union Ridge School works closely with a McKinney-Vento liaison to address needs related to homelessness. The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act stipulates that children qualify as homeless if they meet any of the following criteria:

1. Doubled-up Children: Living with another family due to lack of permanent residence

2. Children in shelters: Including transitional living programs

3. Children living in motels: Due to lack of alternative adequate living situation

4. Migratory Children: If accommodations are not fit for habitation

5. Runaways: Children who have left home and live in a shelter or inadequate accommodations, even if parents are willing to provide a home

6. Lockouts: Children whose parents or guardians will not permit them to live at home 

(https://www.isbe.net/NSDocuments/Housing-Insecurity-Fact-Sheet.pdf)

All students enrolled in Union Ridge School live within District boundaries. The District receives additional funds for newly arrived immigrants and is required to report these numbers.

To be eligible to vote in Cook County Illinois:

• You must be a United States Citizen.

• You must be at least 17 years old on or before the date of the Primary Election and turn 18 on or before the date of the General or Consolidated Election (16 year olds may preregister to vote).

• You must live in your election precinct at least 30 days prior to Election Day.

• You must not be serving a sentence of confinement in any penal institution as a result of a conviction.

• You may not claim the right to vote anywhere else.

https://ova.elections.il.gov/

1. Traffic for drop off and pick up is anticipated to que westbound along Carl Cassata, around the corner at New England, and then within the new parking lot.

2. Deliveries to the school are planned to be via the new parking lot. Trucks most likely will use Carl Cassata to get to the parking lot and to leave. They currently use Carl Cassata.

3. The District can control traffic if needed so that cars exiting the parking lot turn south on New England. A traffic study is a good important step during design. The period of drop off and pick up is typically a small window of time at the beginning of the day and again at the end of the school day.

4. The school has the option to continue to have some students enter using the existing entries.

A traffic study is an important step during design and one will be conducted if the referendum passes

Site development including play areas and fencing will be part of the design process after the referendum.

Individuals with brokerage accounts elsewhere can call Oppenheimer.  

https://www.oppenheimer.com/branch/chicago.aspx 

Ray.Coyne@opco.com

Individuals without brokerage accounts can set them up with us before pricing so they can purchase on pricing day. 

The budget has an allowance for furnishing the additional spaces.  The primary goal is to add additional classrooms and renovate the existing buildings.  Some of the new classrooms may be furnished with existing items (desks, etc).

The preliminary plan does not specify what grades will be moved into the new classrooms.  

If the referendum is successful and the library is expanded the District will add more resources to the media center.  One of the goals of the expansion is simply adding more space to support the way students work and collaborate.

Currently the budget assumes that some work TBD will take place withing the existing building - elevators and other upgrades to be determined.  This may include upgrading existing washrooms depending on the scope.  The proposed addition provides sufficient washrooms to bring the overall building back within the code requirements.