Welcome to the Board Subcommittees
The Board of Education continues to plan for future growth and needs within the District and its Growth Committee continues to seek input from parents & citizens. The Board encourages and welcomes parents and citizens of Sandwich to participate in their discussions. During the meetings, sub-committees continue to study student-housing needs due to current & potential developments.
Various subcommittee work will include Buildings & Grounds Capacity; Community Participation; Programs & Services; Funding & Finance; and Progress & Timelines. The following information pertains to the committee's progress and discussions.
Subcommittee News
Please click on an item below to see more information about what is happening in that subcommittee.
Buildings & Grounds Capacity
The Buildings & Grounds Capacity sub-committee believes the top priority regarding student housing is the high
school. Current discussion included:
- The group reviewed previous work of looking at both short-term (3-5 years) and long-term
(5+ years) options. Discussed was the need to not spend money on a short-term solution that would not also
fit into a long-term solution.
- A review of enrollment data pertaining to developments already approved and/or annexed and the amount of students projected to be added in the short-term.
Short-term solutions discussed included:- A review of enrollment data pertaining to developments already approved and/or annexed and the amount of students projected to be added in the short-term.
- Put additions on Prairie View and Haskin to house fourth grade and allow for short-term
growth in Pre-K through fourth grade. This would provide room at Dummer for grades 5-8 expansion.
- Purchase land and build a junior/senior center near the current high school. Having it near the current high school would not require athletic field duplication.
Long-term solutions discussed included:- Purchase land and build a junior/senior center near the current high school. Having it near the current high school would not require athletic field duplication.
- The junior/senior building would be designed to be expandable. This would allow for
long-term growth. In the future if growth were large enough the current high school could become a freshman
center and the new building could be expanded to include sophomores through seniors.
- Additional elementary building(s) would be built as needed in areas of new construction. In the area north of town a possible middle school could be added, as growth requires. New elementary buildings would be Pre-K through fifth grade.
- Depending on how much Prairie View and Haskin could be expanded they would remain Pre-K through fourth or become PreK through fifth grade attendance centers.
The pros of purchasing land available in close proximity to SHS to build an expandable Jr./Sr. high school are:- Additional elementary building(s) would be built as needed in areas of new construction. In the area north of town a possible middle school could be added, as growth requires. New elementary buildings would be Pre-K through fifth grade.
- Depending on how much Prairie View and Haskin could be expanded they would remain Pre-K through fourth or become PreK through fifth grade attendance centers.
- the flexibility of adding space as needed;
- starting out with correct sized core facilities;
- available land for building;
- possible cooperation with IVVC (sharing classroom space);
- possibility to enhance the fine arts;
- minimal busing changes
- starting out with correct sized core facilities;
- available land for building;
- possible cooperation with IVVC (sharing classroom space);
- possibility to enhance the fine arts;
- minimal busing changes
Funding & Finance
The Funding & Finance sub-committee discussed various funding options related to expansion: Current discussion
included:
A review of impact and land cash fee structures at various government bodies.
A review of impact and land cash fee structures at various government bodies.
- Sandwich City Council recently adopted an increased impact fee structure;
- LaSalle County amended their land/cash ordinance which now includes a formula based off the local "fair market value"; and
- Sandwich School District continues to work with the village of Millington regarding consideration of adopting impact and land/cash fees similar to the City of Sandwich .
A detailed report regarding the current level of bonding of the School District and additional bonding capacity
was reviewed:
- LaSalle County amended their land/cash ordinance which now includes a formula based off the local "fair market value"; and
- Sandwich School District continues to work with the village of Millington regarding consideration of adopting impact and land/cash fees similar to the City of Sandwich .
- Current Bonds
- Tax Cap limits new Life Safety bonding without a referendum.
Total basic bonding capacity is 13.8% of EAV assessment
- 1996 Life Safety - Last payment is in Dec. 2005.
- 1999 Building - This bond was new and restructured from the 1995 building referendum at SHS and the 1998 building referendum to build the Middle School. The balance due is approximately $8 million. Last payment is scheduled for 2019.
- 2002 Life Safety - Last payment is scheduled for Dec. 2012.
- 2005 Life Safety - Last payment is scheduled for Dec. 2024.
- The current bonds result in a 26.82 cents tax levy- 1999 Building - This bond was new and restructured from the 1995 building referendum at SHS and the 1998 building referendum to build the Middle School. The balance due is approximately $8 million. Last payment is scheduled for 2019.
- 2002 Life Safety - Last payment is scheduled for Dec. 2012.
- 2005 Life Safety - Last payment is scheduled for Dec. 2024.
- Tax Cap limits new Life Safety bonding without a referendum.
- Our current $242M EAV yields a little over $33.4M in bonding capacity (13.8% of $242M)
- Current bonds are about $8.7M
- Current new bonding capacity is about $24.7M ($33.4M minus $8.7M)
- If a referendum passes by 2/3, the 13.8% variable could be increased to 15%.
- The maximum bonds can be extended in years is 20 years.
- The increase in tax rate to generate approximately $25M in bonds would be about 40 cents.
- Other methods of raising revenue are from selling working cash bonds. This must be voter approved due to the tax cap. The total generated could equal 85% of what the Education Fund generates (about 6.2 million)
- Discussed needs regarding O&M fund rates. The current rate is 37.5 cents and currently over $400,000 of general state aid has been placed in the fund to help balance operating costs of existing buildings & grounds.
- In the even years (2006) there are two elections - spring & fall. The committee discussed the length of time to pass a referendum and actually build (2 years to build); therefore, Fall 2008 may be the best case scenario to build. Approximately 1 year is needed to design a project in addition to the actual build time.
Current land/cash and impact fee fund balances (8/1/05):
- Current bonds are about $8.7M
- Current new bonding capacity is about $24.7M ($33.4M minus $8.7M)
- If a referendum passes by 2/3, the 13.8% variable could be increased to 15%.
- The maximum bonds can be extended in years is 20 years.
- The increase in tax rate to generate approximately $25M in bonds would be about 40 cents.
- Other methods of raising revenue are from selling working cash bonds. This must be voter approved due to the tax cap. The total generated could equal 85% of what the Education Fund generates (about 6.2 million)
- Discussed needs regarding O&M fund rates. The current rate is 37.5 cents and currently over $400,000 of general state aid has been placed in the fund to help balance operating costs of existing buildings & grounds.
- In the even years (2006) there are two elections - spring & fall. The committee discussed the length of time to pass a referendum and actually build (2 years to build); therefore, Fall 2008 may be the best case scenario to build. Approximately 1 year is needed to design a project in addition to the actual build time.
- Land/Cash Fees - $594,710.67
- Impact Fees - $161,500.24
- Impact Fees - $161,500.24
Community Participation
The Community Participation sub-committee discussed various methods and tasks pertaining to the scope of their
work. Current discussion included providing reports of each sub-committee to various media outlets and developed
a brochure outlining the plans of the Growth committee for citizens to read in print and on the District's
webpage. Community forums were scheduled seeking input from citizens and other taxpayers.
Programs & Service
The Programs & Service sub-committee discussed various methods and tasks pertaining to the scope of their work.
Current discussion included:
- Reviewing all current programs and services the District provides and their method of delivery.
- Once the attendance center at the high school has been addressed, the next priority is to review best practices regarding our PreK- 8th grade programs. Elementary student centers may eventually be PreK-5 such as grades PreK-3 at Woodbury; grades PreK-5 at Prairie View & Lynn G. Haskin; and grades 6-8 at the middle school and Herman E. Dummer School (add onto PV & LGH/not WWW).
- Discussed all day kindergarten considerations as now may be the time to consider and include in additions/new construction plans.
- Once the attendance center at the high school has been addressed, the next priority is to review best practices regarding our PreK- 8th grade programs. Elementary student centers may eventually be PreK-5 such as grades PreK-3 at Woodbury; grades PreK-5 at Prairie View & Lynn G. Haskin; and grades 6-8 at the middle school and Herman E. Dummer School (add onto PV & LGH/not WWW).
- Discussed all day kindergarten considerations as now may be the time to consider and include in additions/new construction plans.
Progress & Timelines
The Progress & Timelines sub-committee discussed various methods and tasks pertaining to the scope of their
work. Current discussion included keeping apprised of all discussions and developing a working plan pertaining
to the mission of each sub-committee.
Committee Assignments
Listed below are ideas that are being discussed in the various subcommittees as well as a contact person for each
subcommittee. These ideas are only brainstorming ideas. No decisions have been made yet.
Building & Grounds Capacity (Ginger Clark 786-2900)
If you would like additional details regarding the subcommittee work, or are interested in serving on any of the
subcommittees, please call the contact person on that committee or the District office 786-2187. If you can't
commit to serving on the committee but would like to receive minutes from the meetings via e-mail, please call
the District office or email sandschl@kidsroe.org.
* Discussed the need for both short-term and long-term options.
* Reviewed approved subdivisions in Sandwich and projected increases in students.
* Discussed Yorkville situation where a school building is being constructed by the developer/builder.
* Discussed additions to existing schools and/or building new facilities.
* Discussed potential locations for future buildings.
Community Participation (Kristi Lindfors 498-2063)
* Reviewed approved subdivisions in Sandwich and projected increases in students.
* Discussed Yorkville situation where a school building is being constructed by the developer/builder.
* Discussed additions to existing schools and/or building new facilities.
* Discussed potential locations for future buildings.
* Discussed a plan to disseminate information from the various subcommittees.
* Discussed creating a brochure to distribute throughout the District.
* Discussed placing subcommittee minutes on the District website.
Programs & Services (Beth Moser 786-3201)
* Discussed creating a brochure to distribute throughout the District.
* Discussed placing subcommittee minutes on the District website.
* Discussed putting information packets together related to best practices, class size, school size, and
traditional v. year-round school calendars. These packets will be used by the various subcommittees.
* Discussed the need to review current and future curriculum needs.
Funding & Finance (Dale Hamilton 786-9795)
* Discussed the need to review current and future curriculum needs.
* Discussed the need for developers to pay their fair share as the community grows.
* Discussed the need to finalize an impact fee study. Ultimately, any changes to existing fees will need to be approved by the City Council.
* Discussed current and proposed county land/cash fees.
Progress & Timelines (Dave Scharenberg 498-2658)
* Discussed the need to finalize an impact fee study. Ultimately, any changes to existing fees will need to be approved by the City Council.
* Discussed current and proposed county land/cash fees.
* Discussed timelines for additions to existing buildings.
* Discussed a timeline for new construction.
* Discussed the need to coordinate with the other subcommittees to determine needs and monitor progress in reaching goals.
* Discussed a timeline for new construction.
* Discussed the need to coordinate with the other subcommittees to determine needs and monitor progress in reaching goals.