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District 88 seeks public feedback on no‑net‑tax‑increase bond to upgrade schools and CTE programs
Summary
District 88 told the school board it is collecting community input on a proposed bond referendum to fund safety, ADA and infrastructure upgrades and CTE equipment, stressing the proposal is framed as ‘without a net tax increase’ and that a ballot question would be adopted in August if the board chooses to proceed.
District staff opened a series of community outreach updates about a potential bond referendum that would appear on the November ballot to pay for facility repairs and career‑technical education upgrades across DuPage HSD 88.
A district presenter (speaker 4) said the proposal would focus spending on “safety and security upgrades, aging infrastructure, ADA accessibility, and more” and repeatedly emphasized the plan was being developed “without a net tax increase.” The presenter urged residents to attend upcoming informational sessions, including a Zoom meeting on May 5 and in‑person meetings May 11 (Willowbrook) and May 14 (Addison Trail), and noted the district would provide childcare and translated materials for outreach.
Staff described outreach tools already used and planned: mailed informational flyers, a second mailer scheduled to be mailed soon, an online FAQ and videos, translated one‑page flyers in Spanish (and soon Arabic, Polish and Urdu), and a community survey to be returned by June 10 that the district says will help shape the proposal. The presenter said the district would make staff available to attend community group meetings and offer tours of both campuses.
District staff framed the bond as limited to capital projects and not operating expenses, saying: “This is only about facilities. This is not about operating costs of the district. It’s not about staff salaries. It’s not about programs.” The presenter listed targeted areas that would receive attention, including access‑control points, emergency notification systems, ADA accessibility improvements, upgrades to performing arts spaces and athletic facilities, and CTE machinery for autos and construction trades.
Finance staff (speaker 9) said the district maintains roughly 130 acres and about 1,100,000 square feet of facilities and noted there has not been a “large upgrade” in nearly 20 years. The presenter described the district’s current financial position as “strong and stable,” pointing to long‑term planning and healthy reserves.
Board members and staff reported early positive feedback on the mailings, said the district plans realtor outreach events in September, and reiterated the goal of clear, multilingual communications. If the board decides to place a question on the ballot, staff said that action would need to occur in August.
Next steps: the district is continuing outreach and will collect survey responses through June 10; no formal ballot question has been placed yet.
