Updated 03/21/25

Building Our Future:  Referendum Updates

Picture

March 2025 Update

In the spring of 2023, our community voted in support of a 2.5 million dollar bond that would specifically be used to: 
  • alter, repair, and equip the existing facilities of the district to enhance security at both buildings
  • replace portions of the roof at Kelvin Grove
  • improve the accessibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act at Milne Grove
  • install central air conditioning systems at both school buildings
  • make general improvements at both school buildings to enhance the educational opportunities  
The district has been invested in a fiscally responsible and deliberate approach to allocate funding towards building improvements.  A timeline has been established to ensure projects will be completed by the fall of 2025.  A few minor projects have already taken place, but the extensive work will be taking place this summer at both buildings.  The first major project will be taking place over Spring Break, with work starting at 4pm this Friday, March 21, 2025, as students and staff leave for the week.  
Here is a list of projects as well as a tentative project completion date:
*The most immediate project taking place will be at Milne Grove starting this Friday evening (3/21/25) as students and staff leave for spring break. This will involve the abatement of asbestos ceiling tiles in all classrooms at Milne Grove and floor tiles in the MG west stairwell as well as the KG classrooms that will get new HVAC units installed this summer.  The KG floor tiles will only involve a few located in the space by the windows where the new univents will be installed.  

With the projects outlined above, we are doing our best to have as little disruption to the current school year as possible, however, there will be some minor changes when we return from spring break, specifically at Milne Grove.  Those changes will include:
  • MG classes will not have ceiling tiles re-installed until the HVAC project is completed over the summer.  The classrooms will have an open ceiling look, similar to what is in the KG junior high classrooms.  The ceilings will have been thoroughly cleaned, vacuumed, and clear of any dust particles as required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for any asbestos removal project before allowing clearance for staff and students back into the rooms after spring break.
  • MG morning drop-off for Oasis, breakfast, and tutoring will have a slightly altered door entrance.  More details to come.  ​

For our Milne Grove families, please look for additional information regarding updates on the morning drop-off as well as some visitor parking changes.  

We are very excited about all the work to be done in the upcoming months. Please be on the lookout for updates along the way, very exciting times ahead for D91, Go Hornets!

Sincerely,
Dr. Kathleen Wilkey, Superintendent

Original Timelines

  • January 2022 review financial projections and building bond for junior high that will be paid off in 2023
  • April 2022 select a new architect
  • Summer 2022 complete Ten-year Life Safety Plan; identify priority projects
  • August 2022 board votes to add limiting rate question to November ballot
  • Fall 2022 begin working with architect to identify projects that we would like to accomplish and costs associated with them to be paid with limiting rate
  • November 2022 failed limiting rate referendum
  • January 2023 board votes to add building bond referendum question on April ballot
  • Winter 2023 developed new plan to accomplish identified projects
  • April 2023 passed 2.4 million dollar bond referendum
  • Summer 2023 developed bid package for projects at MG only
  • December 2023 reject bid packages due to cost
  • Spring/Summer 2024 developed new bid package for projects at both MG and KG
  • October 2024 accept bid package in the amount of 4.2 million dollars

       BUILDING BID APPROVED - CONSTRUCTION COMING SUMMER 2025

Summer projects will include the following:

Milne Grove
  • New construction of a secure entrance, elevator, and second floor conference room
  • Central HVAC in the recently renovated spaces to include the main office, reset room, support staff offices within the reset room, and teachers lounge
  • Central HVAC in all classrooms, removing the current window unit and replacing it with a window for more natural light
  • Central HVAC in the gymnasium/multi-purpose room 

Kelvin Grove
  • Central HVAC in 4th/5th grade classrooms, conference room, counselor office, math RtI room, LASEC 3-5 CAD room, door 2 office, band room and music room.

Message from   Dr. Kathleen Wilkey,    D91 Superintendent

District 91 Spring 2023 Community Newsletter

Spring 2023 District Community Newsletter
File Size: 3205 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Espanol
File Size: 413 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Polsku
File Size: 413 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

 D91 Board Approves April 4th Ballot Question

​At the January District 91 Board Meeting, the Board of Education voted to add a question on the April 4th election ballot that asks the D91 taxpayers to support a $2.5 million bond that will be specifically used to: 
​
  • alter, repair, and equip the existing facilities of the District to enhance the security at both school buildings
  • replace portions of the roof at Kelvin Grove Middle School
  • improve the accessibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act at Milne Grove Elementary School
  • install central air conditioning systems at both school buildings
  • make general improvements at both school buildings to enhance the educational opportunities

This is a different approach than what was on the November ballot.  The April 4th ballot question is asking for the taxpayers to approve a $2.5 million bond that would replace the current bond payment from the junior high addition that is to be paid off this year.  By replacing the current bond payment, there would be no tax increase (from School District 91) and the proceeds of the bond will fund the projects listed above.  The bond would be paid off in seven years, with the final payment being made in the year 2031.  

Please continue to watch for more information that will be shared regarding the April 4th ballot question.

eport  Facility Assessment and Life Safety Report Update​Update​
Facility Assessment / Life Safety Report Update
File Size: 2689 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File