Norris School District 160 reviews facility audit and cost estimates; steering committee meeting set for Dec. 3

Norris School District 160 officials and outside consultants presented a facility assessment and line‑item cost estimates during a public bond workshop, laying out options for site circulation improvements, building repairs and programmatic renovations the board could prioritize for a potential bond measure.

Consultants from Hausman and JEO described their findings and recommended an "a la carte" approach so the board could choose which critical needs to fund. "These costs are all inclusive costs. These are not just construction costs. These include design fees. These include bond issuance fees, soft cost that would be associated," a Hausman presenter said while explaining how figures were compiled.

The presentation listed dozens of individual line items. Site work included a roughly 3,800‑square‑foot addition to the bus barn (C1.1) to expand maintenance and storage, estimated at just under $1.1 million; a new southeast parking lot of about 177 stalls (C3.1) at just under $1.5 million; and additional loop‑road and circulation work (C4.1) priced at about $1.752 million. Presenters noted a $0 placeholder for milling/resurfacing (C5) because the affected areas had not been fully defined.

On building work, presenters outlined program and security changes at the high school — relocating the administration to create a secured front entry, repurposing classrooms, expanding cafeteria and student‑service spaces, replacing aging locker rooms and bleachers, and addressing extensive roof and mechanical needs. The team gave a high‑school subtotal of "just over $21,000,000" for the building items discussed, and listed a roof replacement line priced at about $23,200,000 and HVAC replacement at roughly $6,500,000 in the itemized sheets.

Middle‑school items presented included facade repairs, slab settlement work and improved ventilation/dust‑collection for the shop; a middle‑school subtotal for identified items was presented at about $2,328,000, although the presenter noted some shop systems carry larger separate costs. Elementary‑school work included moving administration to a southeast entry, restroom ADA upgrades, a 1,500‑square‑foot preschool addition (about $566,000), finish upgrades (~$1.5 million), facade repairs (~$121,000), window and roof work and HVAC replacement; presenters listed an elementary subtotal of about $10,896,000.

Not all attendees supported moving immediately toward a ballot question. Heather Hall, a resident who spoke during public comment, urged caution and raised tax‑burden concerns: "This is not potential — you guys are going to go through with this," she said, and added the board should consider how increased property taxes would affect struggling families.

Northland Securities, serving as the district's municipal advisor, outlined the next steps and a public engagement timeline. A Northland representative said the firm would help the district form a steering committee, communicate tax‑impact scenarios and gather public input. The consultant described a three‑meeting steering‑committee sequence (about three meetings, three weeks apart) followed by broader public outreach and intermittent surveys to refine priorities and cost options.

Board and staff agreed to finalize a communications plan and public outreach schedule. A calendar invite was mentioned and a first public steering‑committee meeting was discussed for December 3; staff said they would distribute invitations, newspaper notices, social‑media posts and reminder emails as the date approaches.

The workshop concluded with a motion to adjourn. The transcript does not record a roll‑call vote on that motion.