Facility Improvement Priorities
Building Security, Safety & Maintenance Issues
Question:
What issues will be addressed through this funding?
Answer:
Based on recommendations from a recently completed facilities study, the following top priorities will be addressed:
- Safety and security upgrades at Lotus and Stanton including secured entrances
- New roofs at Lotus and Stanton
- Replace electrical service at Stanton
- Install fire sprinkler system at Stanton
- Install safe exits for all Stanton students, including those who may be wheelchair-bound
- Install up to date, energy efficient mechanical controls
- Replace Lotus air condition unit that is at its end of useful life
Approximate funding level to address these concerns within 5 years=$9 million.
Staffing Priorities
Locally Competitive Salaries and Benefits to Attract and Retain Teachers
Question:
What were the starting new teacher salaries for Fox Lake and other local school district for the 2019-2020 school year?
Answer:
- Fox Lake Elementary District 114: $32,431
- Gavin Elementary District 37: $35,041
- Lake Villa Elementary District 41: $35,041
- Emmons Elementary District 33: $36,720
- Antioch Elementary District 34: $39,098
- Big Hollow Elementary District 38: $41,449
Question:
How do Fox Lake teacher salaries compare to other school districts in Lake County?
Answer:
Fox Lake School District had the lowest starting teacher salary of all 96 school districts in Lake County in the 2019-2020 school year.
Question:
What are Illinois’ minimum salary expectations for beginning teachers?
Answer:
Illinois state law now requires the minimum beginning teacher salary for all school districts be at least $40,000 by the 2023-2024 school year.
Question:
How many teachers left Fox Lake after the 2018-2019 school year?
Answer:
Teachers leaving our district for better compensation in other close-by districts is a significant challenge. Retaining excellent teachers is a characteristic of all strong school districts — that requires competitive salaries and benefits. Thirteen (13) teachers, or 23% of the certified staff, resigned at the end of the 2018-2019 school year.
Student Improvement
Purchase Updated & Rigorous Instructional Materials
Question:
How will funding be used to improve student learning?
Answer:
In all other content areas but mathematics, student materials are out of date or not consistently used in all classrooms. With this funding, the District will, over time, purchase research-based, updated materials in all content areas so students have access to up-to-date learning experiences. While our teachers make do the best they can with old materials, it is essential for our district to have up-to-date curricular material so District 114 students are as well prepared for high school as are students from other area grade school districts.
Impact on Our Community
Question:
How will this referendum impact our families and community?
Answer:
If successful, this referendum will allow District 114 to:
- Improve and protect taxpayers’ investment in their homes.
- Maintain our school facilities for our children and community.
- Provide students with opportunities equal to neighboring schools.
- Recruit and retain high quality, experienced teachers
- Maintain best practices in keeping our schools safe and secure
Cost Information
Question:
How is a ZERO RATE CHANGE going to create funds to address the needs?
Answer:
The bonds taken out to build Lotus Elementary are soon to be paid in full. The portion of our total rate that goes for debt retirement will be eliminated. That gives our District the opportunity to repurpose, or reuse, that portion of our overall tax rate to pay for improvements to our buildings, provide more competitive salaries and benefits for our teachers, and provide up-to-date instruction and curriculum material for our students — all with zero change in the overall tax rate. This will also create long term financial stability for the District’s operating funds.
Question:
What exactly will voters see on the March 17, 2020 ballot?
Answer:
The ballot language is:
Question:
What does this ballot language mean?
Answer:
The ballot language is confusing! Put simply, by paying off our debt on Lotus, our rate in the Debt Fund drops by 59 cents/$100 of assessed home value. The ballot asks taxpayers to repurpose this drop to increase the rate in our operating funds by 59 cents/$100 of assessed home value. This creates a zero rate change, and generates approximately $1.3 million annually to address the identified needs.
