The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by David Grimes/Quill Correspondent
NAUVOO- School administrators and Committee of 10 members from four Hancock County school districts are hopeful voters will see the necessity of passing an April ballot question regarding the formation of a single high school district for students in the Carthage, Nauvoo-Colusa, Dallas City and La Harpe school districts.
But to be prepared should the measure fail, officials are considering alternate plans, too.
The reorganization question will appear with a building bond question asking voters if they want to fund construction of a new high school near the geographical center of the four school districts. The school could cost either $10 million or $18 million, depending on the availability of state Capital Development Board money.
When the four districts initiated reorganization talks a year ago, it was estimated CDB funds would cover approximately $8 million of the total construction cost. An application was made following the districts' first meeting.
When the four districts conducted a public hearing on the necessity for a high school convergence last fall, they did so with a meeting in early November and later in mid-December, hoping to straddle Illinois' veto session and learn whether they would receive the CDB funding.
That word was not received until early January, and Regional Office of Education for McDonough and Hancock Counties Superintendent Robert Baumann said no money was available.
"There are still 24 schools in the state on the waiting list from 2002," he said. "Another huge amount applied in 2003 and another large number in 2004, including this Hancock County group in 2004."
If CDB funding remains unavailable when the ballot verbiage is submitted to county election officials Feb. 3, the bond question will ask for $18 million.
But even if reorganization passes, students from the four districts likely will continue attending classes at their respective school locations, even if new school construction is approved and were to begin immediately.
Bond tax rates, based upon 2004 tax records, with CDB funding would be 77 cents per $100 assessed valuation for property owners in the Carthage district; $1.13 in the Dallas City district; $1.19 in the La Harpe district; and $1.02 in the Nauvoo-Colusa school district.
If the convergence group seeks bond funding solely from the four districts, those rates become $1.18, $1.54, $1.60 and $1.43, respectively.
For example, taxes on a $66,000 home in the La Harpe school district, the district with the highest tax rate, a new $18 million high school would increase property taxes about $270.
Voters also will select board members on the April ballot, and the question will be tricky. Seats will have to be filled on each of the four current school districts or on the new district's board, in which case, separate boards for the four new elementary school districts will need to be formed and filled.
Filing deadline for those wishing to serve on those boards is between Jan. 18 through 25.
Before the school referendum goes before the voters, school officials have an enormous task to work through in the month ahead.
"We've got an ambitious schedule ahead of us," Baumann said.