When Matt Richtman won the Los Angeles Marathon in record time last weekend — becoming the first American champion in 30 years – the 25-year-old athlete put his tiny hometown of Elburn on the map.
There’s good reason students, staff and alumni of Kaneland High School were all abuzz about this huge accomplishment, which happens to come when School District 302 is hoping for a big win of its own – to pass an overdue referendum question for much-needed improvements to the schools.
Those updates include modernizing science labs and a heating system that go back to the late 1950s; providing enough gym space so students don’t have to fulfill mandated P.E. by walking in the halls; and centralizing its outdated transportation center to gain mileage efficiency and possibly reduce long bus rides for students.
The referendum question – the last one was passed 17 years ago – is asking for the issuing of bonds in the amount of $140,274,000, which will restructure and extend the district’s current loan, but unlike the failed 2023 referendum, would not raise taxes.
That’s a critical detail supporters want to emphasize, along with the fact the money this time around would benefit far more than the high school.
All schools, except for Harter, completed in 2009, would receive HVAC upgrades, with the elementary buildings also getting new roofs and playgrounds, and two of those schools receiving new flooring, as well.
The largest chunk of the pie, however, would be directed at the high school, which is sorely in need of an infrastructure facelift to enhance both athletics and academics. That includes adding turf and far more seating to the football stadium, as well as a 78,000-square-foot field house featuring a six-lane track, four basketball/volleyball courts, weight and training rooms.
“Without that field house, other projects are not possible,” noted Kurt Rohlwing, who took over as superintendent of Kaneland School District this year and has been hitting the road hard in an attempt to get critical information out to residents before the April 1 election.
Lack of space is why “we can’t get all 1,200 students through P.E.” without having some of them fulfill that state mandate by walking the halls, he pointed out. And the field house, which could also be used for community events, would allow for repurposing of the outdated west gym into career tech education classrooms that cover subjects from media production to CAD engineering and production, to woodworking engineering and production, to graphics and culinary labs.
“We need a complete renovation,” said Rohlwing, noting that “many other classrooms in the old part of the building have not been updated for decades.”
Like those science labs that have been around since 1958 when the school was built. Or old bathrooms that are not fully accessible. Or the original boilers that closely resemble “the engines in a World War II submarine,” according to the superintendent.
Also getting much-needed attention: the high school entrance, which is so small visitors often get confused about which door to enter, and is not designed for optimum security or efficiency for parents and students alike.
The renovation of the high school, which would cut down on congestion and create flexible learning spaces – including a student commons area – also calls for improved lighting, acoustics and ventilation, which studies show can greatly impact student learning, noted Rohlwing.
The goal is to convert “a big chunk of the building” into geothermal heat and air as a long-term cost-saving measure, he added. More details, including relocation of the transportation building/bus lot to Harter Middle School, can be found at Kaneland.org/referendum.
“The list is long because the need has been ignored for too long,” said Audrey Wirth, who has children in third and sixth grades and is leading the Kaneland YES committee.
“The time is now,” she added, referring to the structuring of the referendum question that would not raise taxes. “Our kids deserve the same as those in surrounding districts.”
As a resident of this community who had kids – and now grandkids – getting their education here, I echo her sentiment: Kaneland has not kept up with other communities in terms of its facilities. “Embarrassing” is the word often used by parents and students, and certainly it was uttered frequently when I wrote a year ago about the decrepit Kaneland High School track that was not updated until another hometown track star was injured on it.
Supporters of the referendum are hoping this new administration, which includes Rohlwing and Assistant Superintendent for Business Jackie Bogan, will turn the ship around, in part, by rebuilding trust.
It would not be without trying. Both leaders have been working long hours to make the rounds in this district that covers over 140 square miles, speaking to residents and answering concerns. Questions, they tell me, range from why not rebuild the high school in a more centralized location to why did the problems become so bad that such an overhaul is needed.
Without industry or retail in this school district, much needed projects were “pushed down the line,” the superintendent told me when we spoke earlier this week. And as far as starting from scratch, Rohlwing has assured residents that professionals brought in to assess district needs insist the high school’s bones are still in good shape.
The time to build is now, supporters declare, because construction costs will only go up.
“We have a great climate at Kaneland and a ton of community spirit,” said a cautiously optimistic Rohlwing. “Largely, the community sees the need.”
“But we need residents to get out and vote yes for the Kaneland school referendum,” added Wirth. “How can you ever go wrong investing in education, not just for our kids now but for generations to come.”
dcrosby@tribpub.com
