School board forwards $110 million bond question to March 2026 ballot

The Ball‑Chatham Community Unit School District 5 Board of Education voted to forward a resolution asking voters to approve $110,000,000 in school building bonds at the March 2026 primary election.

The resolution, presented under agenda item 8.07, would authorize the district to “alter, repair, and equip school buildings and facilities” for a range of projects including safety and security upgrades, replacing fire‑alarm systems, upgrading security cameras and doors, roof and interior repairs, and electrical, plumbing and HVAC improvements. Board leadership asked for and received a motion to move the resolution forward to the ballot; the motion passed in the subsequent roll call with no recorded opposition.

Amanda Ostermeyer, identified in the record as a Ball‑Chatham school board member who could not attend the meeting, sent a written statement asking the board to record her support. Her message, read into the record by the board president, said she “express[es] my full support for the proposed referendum” and argued it would provide funding that “directly benefits our students and our educators” by improving facility safety and long‑term educational quality.

Board members debated the resolution as a procedural step to place the question before voters rather than as the final decision to issue bonds. The resolution sets the ballot language and amount; any issuance of debt would follow established legal and administrative processes if voters approve the measure.

The board scheduled the question to be presented to voters at the March 2026 primary, and the resolution was forwarded to election officials for placement on the ballot. No additional details about timing of potential bond sale, repayment schedules, or specific project phasing were provided at the meeting and were listed in the resolution language only.