The District conducted facilities assessments, life-safety surveys, and educational adequacy reviews to evaluate building conditions, safety needs, and learning-space requirements. Needs were prioritized based on urgency, system age, equity and consistency across schools, and impact on daily operations, student learning, and accessibility.

Excluding the recently constructed Early Learning Center, every District 63 school would receive improvements under the proposed plan. The scope of the work differs by building because each school has different needs based on age, layout, and existing conditions. Most elementary schools would receive a wide range of updates, including mechanical, plumbing, and electrical upgrades, ADA improvements, certain safety and security enhancements, classroom upgrades, and reconfigured learning and support spaces. Gemini Middle School, however, would receive only targeted improvements. Gemini underwent a significant expansion and modernization project in 2020 and requires far fewer upgrades than other buildings, including limited infrastructure updates and secure-entrance enhancements.

Several schools lack sufficient space to support current enrollment, special education, and student-support services, and enrollment is projected to grow in the coming years. Classroom additions would aim to relieve overcrowding and provide right-sized learning environments. At schools like Apollo, Mark Twain, Melzer, and Washington, additions are proposed to add space within a smaller footprint and allow classrooms to stay in use during construction.

A bond referendum asks voters to approve borrowing funds for capital improvements, such as construction, renovations, and major system replacements. If approved, the bonds are repaid over time through property taxes. Bond funds can only be used for facilities and cannot be used for operating expenses.

District 63 has placed a 25-year, $120.6 million bond referendum on the November ballot.

The estimated annual tax impact is approximately $314 ($26/month) for a home with a fair market value of $350,000.

The District has invested between $300,000 and $6.5 million per year in capital improvements and has used non-referendum bond funding for smaller projects. Major recent improvements, like the Gemini renovation and Early Learning Center, were completed with non-referendum funds. However, with most buildings now 56-70 years old, a more comprehensive funding solution is required to replace major systems and add needed space.

The District has addressed many needs through ongoing maintenance and targeted projects, but maintenance funding is designed for short-term fixes, not the coordinated replacement of major systems that are reaching end-of-life across multiple buildings.Addressing issues only as they arise can result in repeated, duplicative work and higher long-term costs. A long-term bond allows the District to plan and complete major improvements comprehensively and more efficiently, rather than relying on ongoing reactive repairs.

The District completed a major renovation and expansion at Gemini Middle School in 2020 and opened a new Early Learning Center in 2020. These projects addressed specific needs at those sites. However, many other District buildings and systems are several decades old and continue to require significant updates.

District 63’s tax rate is among the lowest when compared with nearby peer districts.

The following estimates, provided by our architectural firm, show the anticipated allocation of bond referendum proceeds and capital improvement category.Allocation of bond proceeds by SchoolApollo Elementary: $54.8MMark Twain Elementary: $16.2MMelzer Elementary: $16.2MNelson Elementary: $11.4MWashington Elementary: $17.3MGemini Middle: $2.5MFamily Resource Center: $2.2MAllocation of bond proceeds by capital improvement CategoryBuilding Additions: $64.4MAccessibility Updates: $11.3MKitchen Renovations: $2.3MHeavy Renovations - Learning Environments: $11.1MLight Renovations - Learning Environments: $13.6MHeavy Renovations - Support Space/Corridors: $9.4MLight Renovations - Support Space: $0.8MSite Improvements: $2.4MInfrastructure Improvements: $5.3M

Yes. A State-required comprehensive facilities audit was completed. The District plans to issue $35 million in HLS bonds in 2026, not to exceed $35 million, to address the required facility improvements. The improvements addressed by the HLS financing are separate from the proposed renovations and additions to be funded by the bond referendum.

The District serves portions of Des Plaines, Niles, Morton Grove, Glenview, and Park Ridge.

District 63 serves approximately 3,600 students in five elementary schools, a middle school (grades 6-8), an early learning center, and a Family Resource Center.

Most District buildings are several decades old, averaging nearly 60 years old. The Early Learning Center is relatively new, but many other facilities are approaching or exceeding typical system life expectancies.Apollo Elementary (1970), 56 years Early Learning Center (2020), 6 yearsFamily Resource Center (1967), 59 yearsGemini Middle School (1959), 67 years (updated in 2020)Mark Twain Elementary (1962), 64 years Melzer Elementary (1956), 70 yearsNelson Elementary (1961), 65 years Washington Elementary (1959), 67 years