The new 2018-19 school year is underway as Barrington District 220 officials move ahead with a public-information campaign on a proposed multi-million dollar project to overhaul and upgrade several school buildings across the district.
If approved by a referendum in a possible spring 2019 vote, the master plan, known as Blueprint 220, will impact school facilities over the next 20 years and improve student learning, officials stated a district release.
The 220 Board of Education could adopt a formal plan in early September, and then seek public input on its most important features to the community for changes and emphasis.
“I think in the last 1-1/2 years, we’ve worked hard in preparation,” said District 220 Superintendent Brian Harris. “We have lots of information to present, such as costs, what type of classrooms and how it all becomes what we think the community wants.”In collecting more community feedback, the board of education is considering conducting a telephone survey within the District 220 boundaries.
Harris said the survey will target community members who no longer have children in the district, “because they’re part of the community as taxpayers.”
In addition, the board could form a referendum advisory committee comprised of many community members, according to the district statement.
“The community gets the final decision,” Harris said, adding school officials have not encountered any unforeseen problems while researching the proposed projects.
“Now, it’s just about making an educated decision,” he said.
The community input period is in October and November.
Among the considered projects are a new 800-seat fine arts center for Barrington High School and a $60-million plan to build a third middle school.
Also, the school board has discussed $9.9 million for a “future-ready” renovation of classrooms at Barrington High School.
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