District 13 invites residents to tour buildings

District 13 will host separate tours of its four elementary schools, beginning Monday and occurring on the next three Mondays, to educate residents about its proposed bond referendum plans for repairs and improvements to its facilities.

Board of Education members, administration staff and the buildings’ principals will lead the tours. The $32 million bond proposal is the first time the district has sought to borrow money rather than pay as it goes, due to changes in state law and low lending rates that Interim Superintendent of Business Alan Groveman said make a bond the most cost-effective option.

The bond would fund health-, safety- and security-related repairs, renovations and upgrades at each school, according to the district. Voters will decide whether to approve it on Dec. 8.

The building tours start at 7 p.m. and are scheduled as follows:

Oct. 26: Willow Road School

Nov. 2: Howell Road School

Nov. 9: James A. Dever School

Nov. 16: Wheeler Avenue School

Information about the referendum will be mailed to residents district-wide and will be posted to the district’s website, and the proposal will be discussed at the board’s meetings on Oct. 27 and Nov. 24, at 8 p.m. at the James A. Dever School, 585 N. Corona Avenue.

“The building tours are an opportunity for us to give parents and community members a tour of the existing infrastructure and walk them through the list of proposed projects we have outlined as part of the bond,” said Superintendent Constance Evelyn. “We feel it is important for parents and community members to be well informed about this bond plan. By visiting each school, we can cover what unique needs each school building has and how this bond referendum will address individual building needs.”