Dates Set For District 97 Referendum Discussion

With the clock ticking, the Oak Park Elementary School District 97 Board of Education began solidifying some dates for discussions on a likely referendum before the April election.

There will be two study sessions by the board next month in preparation for a referendum option. These meetings are set for Nov. 2 at 7-9 p.m. and Nov. 13 from 10 a.m. to noon. Both sessions will feature a short time for public comments.

The sites of the discussions will be determined later.

The board has also set a public forum for Nov. 18 from 7-9 p.m. The site for that is will also be determined later. Another public forum is slated for January.

Additionally, community members will be able to visit the District 97 website  — potentially as early as the end of this week — to take survey relating to a referendum option.

Teachers in the district have already been asked for their thoughts.

"In the longer term view, we want to be sure we're engaging the community versus dictating," said Rance Clouser, a District 97 board member.

While the board has not officially endorsed a referendum yet, nor come up with a particular dollar figure needed, it has discussed the need for increased revenue in the past and has targeted the April election period as the likely timing to bring the tax issue to voters.

District 97 has not sought an operating budget referendum since 1989, but it passed a referendum in 1999 to rebuild two middle schools.

The study sessions are intended for the board to start finding a specific vision they want the referendum to have, as well how to present it to the public.