District considering expansion at Glenwood
Intermediate
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
As the Ball-Chatham School District uses reserves to fully fund a new elementary school that will
soon be built next to Glenwood High School, the next big capital project is looming on the horizon.
Glenwood Intermediate School, which currently houses grades 4-5, will move to a grades 5-6
center once the new elementary school opens in the fall of 2011.
The building has a capacity of 650, and is right up against that number this year. By 2012, future
projections put student enrollment at 705 in that school.
"This will have to be addressed soon," Supt. Bob Gillum stressed to the Clarion Monday. "This is
the next big issue we have to deal with."
And all along in the district's long-range plans, this issue was next up, following the new
elementary school being built. However, with the economic climate still very unsettled, state
payments to the district behind nearly $2 million dollars (with no end in to the madness in sight), it's
not exactly the best time to be asking for a public referendum.
The issue will be discussed in earnest by the school board at its spring retreat, but Gillum laid the
foundation that GIS needs additional classroom space, and either a bond referendum or county-wide
sales tax referendum would have to fund the work. Initial estimates for an expansion to
accommodate 250-275 additional students was put at $8 million.
And the county-wide sales tax initiative, which was talked about in earnest last year at this time, is
back on the front-burner, with Springfield District 186 considering getting such an effort on an
upcoming ballot, maybe this fall or in the fall of 2012.
Neither District 186 or the other 10 county districts can control putting the measure on the ballot
themselves, rather some combination of the two is needed to have the 51 percent majority. Currently,
it's near a 50-50 split in student population county-wide, regarding 186 and the rest of the county
schools.
Gillum has educated the local community on the benefits of the tax, which could generate $3
million or more annually to Ball-Chatham alone, and the money can only be used for specific
purposes, such as new construction or building additions.
The one cent tax would be placed on purchases county-wide, with a number of exceptions,
including medications, some grocery times, all licensed vehicles (car purchases) and farm
equipment, among others.
The tax has done wonders for school districts in Iowa and northwestern Illinois, and should such a
tax ever be passed, it's possible Ball-Chatham may never have to go to its taxpayers for another
referendum, at least for the foreseeable future. The tax could generate $30 million or more over a 10-
year period for Ball-Chatham alone.
Springfield is currently trying to figure out how to fund a massive overhaul of its high schools, and
that board is considering the sales tax as an option. Ball-Chatham board members expressed their
support for the measure at Monday's meeting, and a letter will be drafted and sent from President
Mark Bartolozzi (and signed by all B-C board members) to the Springfield 186 school board.
Gillum said it was important for the board to get personally involved, rather than just having the
superintendents talking back and forth. The support for the sales tax, expressed by the board as a
group, will carry more weight. Even if the tax is approved by taxpayers, the Sangamon County Board
will have the final say to formally put the tax into law.
•In other news, the board formally approved final design plans for the K-4 elementary school to be
built next to GHS. Bids will now be let, with contracts awarded in March. The board will have some
leeway with alternate bids and change orders, and there was much discussion Monday night with
architects and the construction manager regarding the artwork that will be seen near the main
entrance, along with floor materials.
Some of the final decisions on the smaller items can be made once the bids come in, architects
said. Gilbane serves as the construction manager on the project, and representative Doug Lim said
he was very optimistic about the current bid climate.
"We've already talked to hundreds of contractors," he stated. "We're going to get a lot of bids on
this project, and that should drive the cost down. We feel very good about where we are at right now."
Project estimates are at $16.9 million for the 77,430 square foot school, and that includes
contingency figures. The school will be paid for through district reserves, though the public still had to
pass a referendum in April 2009 to approve the district using the funds for new construction.
•The district has formed an Action Team to look at how the district will configure its K-4
boundaries, once the new school is open in August 2011. The current set-up has Gordon Drive as
the main dividing line between Chatham and Ball Elementary, with some subdivision exceptions in
the northern part of the district.
Gillum said initial plans call for the new school to have some room for growth at the outset,
meaning it will not be filled to capacity on day one, if at all possible. A lot of variables will be
considered, and all available data will be used. Bus routes and child care providers also will have a
big impact, Gillum said. A recommendation to the board is expected in December 2010.
•Gillum and Dr. Brent McArdle, interim Chief School Business Official, gave a financial update. The
picture, as expected, was gloomy.
The State of Illinois is nearly bankrupt, and despite some recently received special education
payments, the State is still behind more than $2 million in payments to Ball-Chatham alone.
Also, district officials are preparing for the possibility of even less state funding next year, for the
state has a lot of work to do to close a $1 billion budget gap. A number of school grants face being
cut, and in addition to that, the general state aid formula may have to be adjusted (or a new tax
imposed).
At this time, McArdle is estimating at least a $2 million reduction in GSA to Ball-Chatham for FY
2011. Figures are estimates at this point, of course, but the district is planning for the possibility that
some services will have to be cut, or reserves used to cover the shortfall.
Projections for future years show stagnant levy extensions, increasing by about $1 million per year,
as new construction is expected to slack off.
•A closed session was held after the regular two-hour board meeting Monday night, and following
that, the board voted to expel a male student for the remainder of the school year. The expulsion will
be stayed pending successful completion at the Regional Safe School.
•The board is currently being educated on the BoardDocs software, and digital board meetings will
begin soon, probably with sometime next month.
Board members will follow along with the agenda and vote through personal laptop computers
that are hooked up to a secure database. The method will save thousands of dollars in paper and
labor costs involved with producing a number of board packets for each meeting.
•The Interest-Based Bargaining Training for the administration, board and members of the BCEA
will be held this weekend at the IEA building in Springfield. Negotiations on a new teacher's union
contract will commence next month. The current contract expires at the end of the present school year.
•Finally, the school board and Chatham village board are working on an inter-governmental
agreement for work extending roads and utilities to the new elementary school. Plans call for Acacia
Lane to be extended to the school, with that road being the main service road.
The public and bus entrance to the school will at the far west entrance to the west parking lot at
GHS, with that entrance/exit being shut off to GHS and extended to the new school, parking lots and
loop road. Most of the details have been worked out, but the Chatham village board tabled the
measure at its meeting Tuesday for further discussion. The school board will sign off on the
agreement once all terms have been agreed to by both parties.
Intermediate
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
As the Ball-Chatham School District uses reserves to fully fund a new elementary school that will
soon be built next to Glenwood High School, the next big capital project is looming on the horizon.
Glenwood Intermediate School, which currently houses grades 4-5, will move to a grades 5-6
center once the new elementary school opens in the fall of 2011.
The building has a capacity of 650, and is right up against that number this year. By 2012, future
projections put student enrollment at 705 in that school.
"This will have to be addressed soon," Supt. Bob Gillum stressed to the Clarion Monday. "This is
the next big issue we have to deal with."
And all along in the district's long-range plans, this issue was next up, following the new
elementary school being built. However, with the economic climate still very unsettled, state
payments to the district behind nearly $2 million dollars (with no end in to the madness in sight), it's
not exactly the best time to be asking for a public referendum.
The issue will be discussed in earnest by the school board at its spring retreat, but Gillum laid the
foundation that GIS needs additional classroom space, and either a bond referendum or county-wide
sales tax referendum would have to fund the work. Initial estimates for an expansion to
accommodate 250-275 additional students was put at $8 million.
And the county-wide sales tax initiative, which was talked about in earnest last year at this time, is
back on the front-burner, with Springfield District 186 considering getting such an effort on an
upcoming ballot, maybe this fall or in the fall of 2012.
Neither District 186 or the other 10 county districts can control putting the measure on the ballot
themselves, rather some combination of the two is needed to have the 51 percent majority. Currently,
it's near a 50-50 split in student population county-wide, regarding 186 and the rest of the county
schools.
Gillum has educated the local community on the benefits of the tax, which could generate $3
million or more annually to Ball-Chatham alone, and the money can only be used for specific
purposes, such as new construction or building additions.
The one cent tax would be placed on purchases county-wide, with a number of exceptions,
including medications, some grocery times, all licensed vehicles (car purchases) and farm
equipment, among others.
The tax has done wonders for school districts in Iowa and northwestern Illinois, and should such a
tax ever be passed, it's possible Ball-Chatham may never have to go to its taxpayers for another
referendum, at least for the foreseeable future. The tax could generate $30 million or more over a 10-
year period for Ball-Chatham alone.
Springfield is currently trying to figure out how to fund a massive overhaul of its high schools, and
that board is considering the sales tax as an option. Ball-Chatham board members expressed their
support for the measure at Monday's meeting, and a letter will be drafted and sent from President
Mark Bartolozzi (and signed by all B-C board members) to the Springfield 186 school board.
Gillum said it was important for the board to get personally involved, rather than just having the
superintendents talking back and forth. The support for the sales tax, expressed by the board as a
group, will carry more weight. Even if the tax is approved by taxpayers, the Sangamon County Board
will have the final say to formally put the tax into law.
•In other news, the board formally approved final design plans for the K-4 elementary school to be
built next to GHS. Bids will now be let, with contracts awarded in March. The board will have some
leeway with alternate bids and change orders, and there was much discussion Monday night with
architects and the construction manager regarding the artwork that will be seen near the main
entrance, along with floor materials.
Some of the final decisions on the smaller items can be made once the bids come in, architects
said. Gilbane serves as the construction manager on the project, and representative Doug Lim said
he was very optimistic about the current bid climate.
"We've already talked to hundreds of contractors," he stated. "We're going to get a lot of bids on
this project, and that should drive the cost down. We feel very good about where we are at right now."
Project estimates are at $16.9 million for the 77,430 square foot school, and that includes
contingency figures. The school will be paid for through district reserves, though the public still had to
pass a referendum in April 2009 to approve the district using the funds for new construction.
•The district has formed an Action Team to look at how the district will configure its K-4
boundaries, once the new school is open in August 2011. The current set-up has Gordon Drive as
the main dividing line between Chatham and Ball Elementary, with some subdivision exceptions in
the northern part of the district.
Gillum said initial plans call for the new school to have some room for growth at the outset,
meaning it will not be filled to capacity on day one, if at all possible. A lot of variables will be
considered, and all available data will be used. Bus routes and child care providers also will have a
big impact, Gillum said. A recommendation to the board is expected in December 2010.
•Gillum and Dr. Brent McArdle, interim Chief School Business Official, gave a financial update. The
picture, as expected, was gloomy.
The State of Illinois is nearly bankrupt, and despite some recently received special education
payments, the State is still behind more than $2 million in payments to Ball-Chatham alone.
Also, district officials are preparing for the possibility of even less state funding next year, for the
state has a lot of work to do to close a $1 billion budget gap. A number of school grants face being
cut, and in addition to that, the general state aid formula may have to be adjusted (or a new tax
imposed).
At this time, McArdle is estimating at least a $2 million reduction in GSA to Ball-Chatham for FY
2011. Figures are estimates at this point, of course, but the district is planning for the possibility that
some services will have to be cut, or reserves used to cover the shortfall.
Projections for future years show stagnant levy extensions, increasing by about $1 million per year,
as new construction is expected to slack off.
•A closed session was held after the regular two-hour board meeting Monday night, and following
that, the board voted to expel a male student for the remainder of the school year. The expulsion will
be stayed pending successful completion at the Regional Safe School.
•The board is currently being educated on the BoardDocs software, and digital board meetings will
begin soon, probably with sometime next month.
Board members will follow along with the agenda and vote through personal laptop computers
that are hooked up to a secure database. The method will save thousands of dollars in paper and
labor costs involved with producing a number of board packets for each meeting.
•The Interest-Based Bargaining Training for the administration, board and members of the BCEA
will be held this weekend at the IEA building in Springfield. Negotiations on a new teacher's union
contract will commence next month. The current contract expires at the end of the present school year.
•Finally, the school board and Chatham village board are working on an inter-governmental
agreement for work extending roads and utilities to the new elementary school. Plans call for Acacia
Lane to be extended to the school, with that road being the main service road.
The public and bus entrance to the school will at the far west entrance to the west parking lot at
GHS, with that entrance/exit being shut off to GHS and extended to the new school, parking lots and
loop road. Most of the details have been worked out, but the Chatham village board tabled the
measure at its meeting Tuesday for further discussion. The school board will sign off on the
agreement once all terms have been agreed to by both parties.
Chatham Clarion
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Issue Date: Jan. 28, 2010