ICYMI Second Try is a Charm: Passing a Facilities Referendum
By Fatima Cooke
Presenters: Michael J. Conway, Board President; Kurt Hansen, Board Vice President; Anna Kasprzyk, Chief School Business Official; Ed Liberman, Board Member, Lake Villa CCSD 41
Lake Villa CCSD 41 needed to invest in infrastructure. The district learned — from a failure to pass a facilities referendum — to listen and to better engage the community on a second attempt, which secured the support needed to succeed.
On April 2, 2019, voters in the county were presented two referendum questions, one authorizing $34.2 million in additional debt, the other increasing the amount the district could levy for debt payments without going back to the voters. Voters rejected both plans, with 72% voting against the first and 75% voting against the second.
The panelists described the pitfalls of that failed referendum. The school board sought capital school improvements, including needs, wants, and adding a “sizzle” to 21st-Century learning. From handing off engagement to a third party, public disagreements among board members, and a lack of clarity on the proposed improvements, there was lots to learn when the board went back to the drawing board.
The board realized that it must unify and make compromises to present the 2020 proposal. They agreed to separate from the third-party firm and own the community engagement. The board hosted 22 open meetings, including facilities and finance committees, regular board meetings, and community engagement sessions. The board polled itself after each meeting, asking if everyone was still on board and addressing the concerns or questions at the moment.
The board also narrowed the scope of work and aligned to a use of funds most impactful to the learning environment. This was transparently explained and reviewed in the open facilities committee meetings.
The finance committee communicated the fiscal situation to the community and reviewed multiple-year financing options. The board also decided to move to a single ballot question which passed unanimously on a 7-0 vote.
What were the successes and lessons learned? Voters approved a $30.7 million bond referendum in March 2020, enabling Lake Villa CCSD 41 to finance much-needed school maintenance and infrastructure enhancements.
With this success, the board members reflected on lessons learned. They called out owning the process, and that even though there was some value in partnering with the third-party firm, they definitely should not have handed over the entire process. School Board Member Ed Liberman explained the need to embrace distractors and get them engaged and involved. Board President Micheal Conway pointed out, “It is never in the board’s best interest to vilify opposers of the proposed plan. It is always ok to have differences of opinion.”
The board learned that it could build trust by engaging everyone openly and by having a pulse on the “wants” vs. “needs” of everyone and what the community is willing to invest with both in mind. <
Fatima Cooke is now Chief of Equity, Engagement and Strategy for Chicago Public Schools and participated in the Educational Administrator Internship program at the 2023 Joint Annual Conference.