Board reviews reduced middle-school design and $68M budget; finance advisor outlines tax impact if referendum passes

Consultants for Evergreen Park ESD 124 presented a revised middle-school design and a financing model the board could put before voters, with the goal of preserving core program needs while cutting cost. Heather of DLA said the redesign reduced about 15,000 square feet from the original plan while retaining site circulation and the programmatic elements deemed essential by administrators.

"We cut 15,000 square feet out of the original design," Heather said, describing measures such as converting a full service kitchen to a warming kitchen, reducing planned classrooms from 29 to 25 (with a planned future addition if growth warrants), trimming some full science labs to three and adding flex rooms, resizing the music and fitness spaces and removing an optional 'learning stair.'

Josh Curran of FH Passion, the construction management firm, told the board the team worked to optimize the design and the budget while recognizing market uncertainty. "I live in spreadsheets," Curran said, explaining the construction management role in translating design decisions into cost models and contingencies. He said the budget presented is intended to be comprehensive — covering demolition of the existing building, site work, architecture and management services, required insurance and bonding, furniture and other deliverables.

Finance representative Tammy presented debt-service modeling for a hypothetical referendum that would fund the work. Using a 30-year structure with a conservative 0.25% uplift and a 4.7% true interest cost, Tammy estimated a levy-year 2026 tax-rate increase of about $0.64 (64¢). She said that, under the assumptions used, a property with a $300,000 market value would see an annual property-tax increase of just over $600, with payments beginning in calendar year 2027 if a November referendum were to be successful.

Tammy emphasized the team’s conservative approach to escalation and contingencies given current market volatility. "We still felt it was appropriate to add some cushion into the current market environment," she said, noting potential risks (tariffs, energy prices, supply-chain issues) and the value of structuring alternates when the project goes to bid.

Board members praised the consultants for returning with a smaller-scope option that administrators said still meets instructional needs. The proposal keeps the original site orientation and pick-up/drop-off circulation while offering a plan for a future addition if enrollment growth justifies it.

Next steps identified by the board include continued refinement of costs, public outreach and a timeline for consideration of a November referendum. If the board authorizes a ballot question, staff said it will provide tax-impact calculators and community information as part of the outreach plan.