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CUSD 201 presents Miller Elementary consolidation plan, cites $70 million construction estimate and referendum requirement
Summary
CUSD 201 administrators outlined a proposal to build a single K–5 school on the Miller site, saying the project would cost about $70 million, require a public referendum, and could yield annual operating savings of roughly $600,000 while avoiding displacement in some construction scenarios.
CUSD 201 superintendent Jack Balderman presented a proposal to consolidate two elementary campuses into a single K–5 building at the district-owned Miller Elementary site and solicited community feedback during a virtual meeting. Balderman said the plan would require voter approval and that administrators estimate the construction portion of the project at about $70,000,000; proceeds from selling the Manning property are intended to help acquire seven adjacent parcels needed for the build.
The plan addresses long-standing infrastructure problems across the district. "This is not due to a lack of maintenance," Balderman said, arguing that systems such as boilers, steam lines and electrical components have reached the end of their useful life. Facilities director Joe Smith described mechanical failures at Manning that have required emergency fixes, telling attendees the district has relied on costly short-term repairs and overtime labor to keep systems functioning.
Rob Roble of Leggett Architects described the new school as an approximately 90,000-square-foot building, with design drawings taking about a year and construction roughly 18 months — a roughly 2½-year process from schematic to completion. Balderman said the district has contacted six of the seven neighboring property owners; five have indicated they are open to offers, one is noncommittal and one remains to be reached.
Balderman and staff said consolidation could produce operating savings through fewer buildings to maintain, reduced utility costs from modern systems and staffing reductions achieved primarily through attrition and retirements. The district offered a conservative annual savings estimate of about $600,000. When asked whether the village’s purchase and redevelopment of the Manning site would increase residents’ taxes, a Village of Westmont representative, Spencer, said redevelopment could instead generate about $800,000 in new tax revenue for local taxing bodies and would not automatically raise current homeowners’ tax bills.
Administrators confirmed the project would require a referendum under Illinois school-finance rules and said they are exploring bond terms (20- and 30-year options, callable vs. non-callable) and a district tax-calculator slide that shows individual impacts vary by home value and exemptions. An initial, approximate figure mentioned during the session was about $1,000 per homeowner; presenters emphasized the figure is an estimate and depends on final bond terms and property values.
On phasing and student impacts, officials said it may be possible to keep Miller in use while work proceeds on adjacent parcels; if Miller had to close for a period (the presenters used a two-year scenario), temporary reassignments could place some kindergarten students at South and shuffle other grade levels among Manning, the junior high and the high school. Balderman stressed no final drawings or commitments have been made and that the district remains in a listening phase, seeking feedback at additional sessions (May 19 was listed) and via the district website and contact channels.
The district also reviewed recent local experience with referendums and construction: multiple unsuccessful referendums were described from the 2010s, and recent investments (including a 2022 HVAC upgrade) were cited as part of the facilities’ history. Balderman closed by encouraging residents to submit questions via the website or request in-person meetings with district staff.
Next steps listed by administrators include continued community outreach, updated appraisals and formalization of referendum and bond terms; no formal board action or vote occurred at the session.
