For generations, Glenbard District 87 students have benefitted from an outstanding high school experience. We want to continue this tradition. Our four high schools, which range in age from 51 to 101 years old, have numerous capital improvement needs. The March 19, 2024 referendum seeks to secure funding necessary to make crucial facility improvements.

Referendum Summary

• Glenbard District 87 is asking voters to approve a $183 million bond issue in the March 19, 2024 election to fund its new 10-year facility master plan.
• The bond proposal will cost the owner of a $300,000 home about $4/week.
• Over the next 10 years, the district will fund an additional $129 million of improvements from its operating budget, for a total of $312 million of facility projects.
• The proposed improvements are addressing real needs. While our buildings are structurally sound, they are between 51 and 101 years old. We must make sure our educational spaces support today’s best practices in curriculum and instruction.
• The referendum continues our history of responsible planning. We spend less on our facilities and operations, carry less debt, and have a lower tax rate than the vast majority of districts in the metro area.
• Addressing these needs now allows us to continue to protect what matters most by avoiding expensive, future repairs. Doing so will make sure we continue to provide the educational experiences our children and families need and deserve.

Our Needs

Our 10-year plan will address prioritized needs in the following areas:

Safety and security

• Upgrades are needed to safety & security systems and entrances to keep up with today’s best practices.

Classroom and science lab improvements

• Upgrade out-of-date science labs.
• Add windows and replace lighting and flooring where needed.
• Align classroom design with current best practices in curriculum and instruction.

Infrastructure

• Our 4 high schools vary in age between 51 and 101 years old. When crucial infrastructure ages and becomes inefficient, operating costs increase, taking money away from instructional priorities.
• Continue to upgrade and renovate, where needed, building infrastructure – items like roofs, windows, electrical systems, plumbing, and heating and cooling systems.

Overcrowding

• Upgrade cafeteria space to eliminate overcrowding and provide flexible learning and program spaces.

Access to student support services

• Relocation of commons areas to increase accessibility for student support services such as social workers and counselors.

Improvement Opportunities

     Funding estimates by school

Glenbard East

• Safer and secure vestibule at main entrance connected to relocated main office
• Replace exterior window system
• Classroom and science lab improvements
• Improvements to fine arts spaces
• Student support services relocation to improve access to resources
• Learning commons space to support diverse student learning experiences
• Cafeteria expansion and upgrades to gain versatile, multi-purpose space and relieve congestion

Glenbard North

• Safer and secure vestibule at main entrance connected to main office
• Classroom and science lab improvements
• Introduce daylight – severe lack of windows
• Improvements to fine arts spaces
• Student support services relocation to improve access to resources
• Learning commons space to support diverse student learning experiences
• Cafeteria expansion and upgrades to gain versatile, multi-purpose space and relieve congestion

Glenbard South

• Safer and secure vestibule at main entrance connected to relocated main office
• Classroom and science lab improvements
• Introduce daylight – severe lack of windows
• Improvements to fine arts spaces
• Learning commons space to support diverse student learning experiences
• Student support services relocation to improve access to resources
• Cafeteria expansion and upgrades to gain versatile, multi-purpose space and relieve congestion

Glenbard West

• Safer and secure vestibule
• Classroom and science lab improvements
• Learning commons spaces to support diverse student learning experiences
• Student support services relocation to improve access to resources
• Increase versatile and multi-purpose spaces
• Equitable additional fine arts space
• Cafeteria expansion and upgrades to gain versatile, multi-purpose space and relieve congestion

What It Means to Student Learning

Facility additions/renovations/expansion will accommodate best practices in student learning and provide students with spaces that:

• Reflect current educational standards in regards to science, technology, art and design, music, etc.
• Are more flexible and support best practices in curriculum and instruction
• Provide easier access to student resources, including college and career counseling
• Create accessible and versatile areas for student project development and presentations
• Align with our Profile of a Graduate values: Communicates, Creates, Collaborates, Thinks Critically, Embraces Diversity and is Self-Empowered
• Allow for efficient and seamless access to technology and tools
• Address needs for student extracurricular activities and community group meetings

Continuing Responsible Planning

• District 87 invested $154 million in its facilities with the last 10-year plan, which concluded in 2023.
• Began developing new 10-year plan in 2022 – building on previous assessments.
• Students, parents, community members, educators and district leaders formed a team to discuss the future of District 87 and develop a responsible plan to address our facility needs.
• Community involvement starting in 2022:
  8 Board of Education meetings (through December 2023)
  3 community engagement team meetings (June to November 2023)
  Community forums and facility plan engagement meetings held at all 4 schools (Fall 2023)
  Community survey available (October 2023)
  Newsletter mailed to all district households (March 2023)
  Numerous communications sent during this time, including via Glenbard News e-news and social media

Need for Additional Funding

Referendum Request (District-Wide)
Amount Needed = $183 million

District Funded
Budgeted Funds = $129 million

Prioritized Needs (10 years)
Overall Cost = $312 million

If approved, the referendum will cost the owner of a $300,000 home about $4/week.

Fiscal Responsibility

District 87 has a history of responsible planning and fiscal stewardship, as demonstrated by continual commitment to:

• high utilization of annual operating budget toward improving facilities
• balanced budgets
• low debt (impact to taxpayers)

* Surpassed our commitment to the community regarding investing in facilities. Over the last 10 years, we have invested $154 million into our facilities. ($119 million from district operating budget + $35 million from 2014 referendum)

* Perfect 4.0 Financial Profile Score from the Illinois State Board of Education – financial recognition for 17 years in a row

* Operating Expenditure Per Pupil comparison (2022)
$25,156 = average spent across 19 peer Chicago-area districts
$20,782 = Glenbard District 87   (2nd-lowest of 19 peer Chicago-area districts)

* Lowest debt tax rates of 7 DuPage County high school districts (2022)

* 4th-lowest debt per pupil out of 13 districts (high school and K-12) in DuPage County (as of June 30, 2023)

* AA+ bond rating (Standard & Poor’s) enables the district to receive favorable borrowing rates

Operating Expense Per Pupil (OEPP)

As an example of Glenbard District 87’s sound financial stewardship, Glenbard has the second-lowest operating expense per pupil among 19 peer Chicago-area school districts.

2022 Operating Expense Per Pupil Comparison
(Source: ISBE annual financial reports)

• $25,156 = average spent across 19 peer Chicago-area districts
• $20,782 = Glenbard District 87
• Other districts included in data include:
  CHSD 99
  CHSD 128
  CHSD 155
  DuPage HSD 88
  Evanston HSD 202
  Glenbrook HSD 225
  Grayslake CHSD 127
  Hinsdale HSD 86
  Lake Forest CHSD 115
  Leyden CHSD 212
  Lyons HSD 204
  Maine HSD 207
  New Trier HSD 203
  Oak Park – River Forest SD 200
  HSD 211
  HSD 214
  HSD 113
  Stevenson HSD 125

Funding Facilities Since 1971

Referendum (Bond) Funding
(unadjusted for inflation)

• 1976 = $1.9 million
• 1994 = $6 million
• 1998 = $16 million
• 2006 = $32 million
• 2014 = $35 million

Referendum (Bond) Debt

• Since 1971, all previous bond rate ballot questions approved
• Only $90.9 million ($147 million inflation adjusted) since 1971
• $1.75 million per year average

District-Funded (Operating Budget)

• $119 million of non-referendum debt since 2014
• $11.9 million per year average

Key Takeaways

• Improvements to facilities are necessary to support best instructional practices.
• Without a large one-time revenue source, some key needed facility improvements are not feasible. The enhancements to instructional spaces (e.g. classrooms, science labs, fine arts, athletics) cannot be completed without sufficient funding.
• Since construction costs are increasing, efficient borrowing now yields a high return on the investment in student opportunities long term.
• The District 87 board and administration demonstrated responsible stewardship with the 2014 referendum ($154 million invested over 10 years with $35 million from referendum).
• District 87 facilities – particularly entrances, common spaces and high-traffic areas – are not currently meeting the standards of large, comprehensive high schools.
• Comprehensive investment is needed for District 87 to be competitive within the region in offering a high-caliber high school education for all Glenbard students.
• Raising the standard of excellence in our facilities is an investment in our communities.