News Local/State

Champaign School Board Scales Back Cost, Scope of Facilities Plan

 

A bond referendum expected to appear on the November 8th ballot in the Champaign Unit Four school district will be reduced to $183.4 million, due to actions taken Monday night.

To shrink the size of the bond proposal, Unit Four school board members voted to use $25 million in existing funds to help pay for the work proposed at four district schools. They also voted scale back renovation work at the two high schools, and to drop plans to add new classrooms to the International Prep Academy.

The proposal now calls for the renovation and expansion of Unit Four’s two high schools, the rebuilding of Dr. Howard Elementary School and renovations only at the Prep Academy, Edison Middle School, and South Side Elementary School.

School board members will take a final vote to place the referendum on the November ballot on Thursday night.

That’s the same night that the Champaign County Board is expected to vote on placing a 1/4 cent facilities sales tax referendum on the ballot.