Future 113A

If the proposal is approved by voters, the district will be able to generate $6 million annually, giving the District the ability to create additional classroom spaces at each of our four schools while other funds will be used to staff, maintain, and support these additional classrooms in order to keep class sizes reasonable. The timeline for planning and construction would be developed quickly but could take up to two years to build the additions onto each building. 

If the proposal is not approved, SD113A will continue to face challenges due to rapidly growing enrollment and space constraints. While the district values keeping class sizes reasonable, there would be a need to increase class sizes at most grade levels. The district would also have to make decisions around potential programming cuts in order to have more dedicated classrooms. Additionally, larger spaces in the schools like Library Resource Centers or dedicated specials’ classrooms may need to be transformed into general education classrooms with those programs either becoming mobile (on carts) or being eliminated. 

The financial challenges District 113A faces today are not the result of overspending. Compared with peer districts, District 113A operates with a lower tax rate, lower per-pupil spending, and lower State funding, clear evidence of long-standing fiscal discipline and careful resource management. Many peer districts have tax rates significantly higher than District 113A’s, receive substantially more State Evidence-Based Funding per student, and spend significantly more per pupil each year, underscoring the District’s sustained commitment to fiscal responsibility.

Tax Rate Comparison 

Many peer districts have tax rates up to 45% higher than District 113A’s, receive substantially more State Evidence-Based Funding per student, and spend at  least 30% more per pupil each year,  underscoring the District’s sustained  commitment to fiscal responsibility.

Per Pupil Spending Comparison 

In Illinois education, the "limiting rate" is the maximum property tax rate a school district can levy for funds subject to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL). It acts as a revenue control mechanism, capping a district's annual property tax extensions to the lesser of 5% or the rate of inflation (CPI).

District 113A is considering placing a limiting rate referendum on the November 2026 ballot. If approved, the limiting rate increase would generate an estimated $6,000,000 annually. 

SD113A has proactively worked to manage growth:

• Reopened Central School in 2022
• Repurposed internal spaces (LRCs, shared rooms)
• Adjusted staffing to meet increasing enrollment
• Explored reacquiring district-owned property
• Conducted multiple demographic studies
• Participated in Village Technical Review Committee processes
• Acquired adjacent property to expand parking at Central
   

To address current and future capacity needs, SD113A has evaluated short and long term facility expansion solutions including:

• Classroom additions at all existing schools
• Use of modular (temporary) classrooms
• Reclaiming district-owned facilities
• Building a new school

We currently do not have any available classroom space at our four schools to be able to handle the anticipated enrollment increase.

SD113A is a good steward of taxpayer dollars, and when facing challenges with space, opted for the most cost-effective solution for facilities, which is adding onto current buildings. We considered building a new building; however, the cost was the highest of the options. Additionally, other districts have utilized a similar option and found that enrollment numbers didn’t increase to those levels, resulting in school closures, which we want to avoid for our taxpayers.

Our facilities were built to last and are well-maintained, but the challenges of simply not having enough space to serve our growing student population require the district to look into other options. Additionally, by proposing this type of proposal, the district is ensuring that not only will we create extra spaces, but we will have the funds to staff those spaces and keep class sizes reasonable while maintaining our commitment to excellence in programming. 

Yes. SD113A is partnering with architects to determine the priorities for this proposal which will include renderings of planned additions and renovations. There is not a need to purchase additional land at this time, but the district is closely watching properties around schools with future growth in mind. 

The District planned in 2021 to reopen Central School with the intention of reducing class sizes as enrollment increased. That goal was achieved. 

The building construction provided for 27 classrooms (includes classrooms for Art, Music, and STEM). Currently, the building has 582 students enrolled, and every classroom is filled. We have an additional section in fourth grade that we had to take a multi-purpose room and convert it into a classroom due to the additional need of a class section in 2024-25. We have another section from 3rd to 4th that will require us to consider using an art, music or stem lab to accommodate another classroom, which in turn, will put one of these Encore classes on a cart for instructional purposes.

Since that time, the district has seen 300 more students enroll into the district, and the district has taken measured, conservative approaches to continue to reduce and/or maintain class sizes while continuing to monitor increasing enrollment. The district has engaged in three enrollment studies, the most recent in 2026, to gauge variables such as fertility rates, existing home sales and developments. 

The district is not looking to build a new school to accommodate the increasing enrollment. While that is an option, that is the most costly option of $65-70 million + that the district does not have and doesn’t believe will solve the problem. Instead, additions to each building would provide a reasonable solution to the increasing enrollment problem.