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Schools

Irving Schoolyard Plans Hinge On Referendum

Parents told dramatic pavement makeover on hold until voters have their say.

In a better economic situation, Washington Irving Elementary School might have been on its way toward a lush green landscape to replace the current swath of cracked pavement surrounding the school's back walls.

But in the year of a to stave off a budget deficit in Oak Park Elementary School District 97, the timing from a group of Irving parents couldn't have been much worse.

Many Irving parents helped pack the District 97 Board of Education meeting room Tuesday night in hopes of advancing the plans for the school's rear yard — plans which include replacing the pavement with an artificial turf soccer field, a turf playground and fitness center, as well as more trees and a new parking lot.

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Irving is the only one of the district's eight elementary schools without an adjoining grassy play area.

While the board has expressed support for the project, members weren't willing this week to make any promises to the parents until the results of an expected referendum in April are known.

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"On philosophy there aren't many differences, but fiscally we have some problems," said District 97 Supt. Al Roberts. "The first thing we need to do is get a referendum passed."

If the referendum is approved, Roberts said the district can then can pay for a study outlining plans for the improvements. After that, it's likely the Irving project will be accomplished in stages, to defray the cost over time.

But some parents who've been behind the effort wanted more of an early commitment. That way, they said, PTO members could help organize funding sources well before the April vote.

"That would give us the possibility to hit the ground running in April," said Tom Bassett-Dilley, an Irving parent as well and local architect.

But Roberts reminded Bassett-Dilley that any plans would need to be submitted by the district and that the school board wouldn't make a move without a clear budget picture.

The superintendent added that if the proposed referendum were to pass, all 10 District 97 schools would be in line for a combined $2.5 million for capital improvements.

Jassen Strokosch, a parent and former Irving PTO president, asked how much of that $2.5 million would go to Irving. Roberts answered $250,000 — the minimum amount he could guarantee.

Despite the setback, the Irving PTO's  effort, called "Irving School Yard Project: Putting the Yard Back in School Yard," already has made some progress. Last year school officials added on the side of its building for each of Irving's classes. 

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