To view the District 203 Plan for Upgrading School Facilities 2007-2012, which was accepted by a unanimous vote of the Board of Education on December 3, 2007, please go to:

Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions that are contained within the document.

NCHS RENOVATION FAQs

1. Will there be enough classrooms provided in the NCHS renovation plan?

Based on demographic projections from an outside consultant, a renovated NCHS is being built for slightly over 2800 students. When a newly-renovated building opens, there are expected to be 2800 students enrolled. If enrollment is higher than 2800, space will be maintained in the basement area until the enrollment declines below 2800 (expected to occur in 2013-14) and that area can then be "de-commissioned" and used for storage. Current demographer’s projections have Naperville Central declining to 2600 students in 2015-16 and staying roughly at that level.

2. Why is it necessary to have bigger classrooms at Central?

Curriculum delivery is much different now than in the past. Students going into the business world, for example, are expected to be able to comfortably work in groups to accomplish tasks and to be proficient in technology. These are just two reasons why high school classrooms today need to be bigger than in the past. In addition, a major "problem"

at Central is the way classroom, corridors, and building configurations were built as the school expanded rapidly to meet increased enrollments. Today, departments are fragmented, corridors can’t handle student passages at peak times, and students are forced to go back and forth across the building multiple times daily, which is a problem of time and efficiency.

3. What about repairs to roofs, boilers, heating/air conditioning and other infrastructure systems?

Areas of major renovation include upgrades to infrastructure systems as part of the project cost. In areas of minor renovation, project funds, especially contingency funds, can be used to replace systems with low life expectancies (e.g., HVAC systems with less than a projected life of 15 years). For areas that are untouched or relatively untouched in the renovation effort, annual District maintenance money is available to replace infrastructure systems on an ongoing basis as necessary.

4. What percentage of Central’s building will be "touched?"

It is estimated by our architects that approximately 75% of the building will be touched in some way. The two major areas that are not included in the renovation are the pool and auditorium, which were both built in 1992. The basement area will remain as is, as noted in the answer to question 1 above.

5. Will a major renovation have a significant enough "shelf life" to make it viable?

A $87 million renovation of NCHS is projected to be good for a minimum of 40-50 years, perhaps longer, although ongoing routine maintenance is of course required.

6. What about the safety and comfort of students and staff during construction? Will safety be compromised?

No. Many school systems have handled building renovation safely while schools are in session. Clearly, our goal is to do as much of the major construction work as possible over the summer and during breaks. All federal laws and OSHA guidelines regarding health and safety issues (e.g., asbestos abatement) will be followed, as the District as done in the past. A phasing plan for this project (and the others) will be developed prior to the start of construction.

If a referendum is approved, the detailed site and design work will need to be done before any construction begins; this will take several months. With regard to Naperville Central, in particular, the plan is for the new additions to be completed first so students can move into those areas (e.g., new science labs) so other areas of the building can be sealed off and remodeled. Any major renovation creates dust and inconvenience for short periods of time, but student safety and instruction won’t be compromised.

FINANCIAL FAQs

1. Can the District get a State Construction Grant for the building projects?

No. The State does not have a construction program currently. While there is interest in the legislature to budget one, it is unlikely to impact this year. State law requires a School District to have an application processed and an official entitlement letter from the State prior to any referendum. The State will not evaluate applications or issue any entitlement until a viable program is funded. There is already a backlog of Districts that are owed money as well as 299 applications that have not been evaluated for entitlement.

2. The District is using Site and Construction funds totaling $32.7million

The Site and Construction Fund was created in 2006 with the land sale of Walnut Woods for

$5.8 million. The District added $6.2 million to that in 2007 and plans to add $10 million in 2008, $4 million in 2009, $5 million in 2010, and $.2 million in 2011. The remainder

($1.5 million) is interest income on the balance. The amounts added by the District each year are based on year-end budget revenue over expense.

In 2008, an additional $5 million over that planned (total of $10 million shown above) was added due to higher interest income and increased state grants. Projected revenue exceeding expense in 2009 through 2011 is based on projected reductions in health insurance costs based on a recent plan change and salary costs set by recent contractual agreements.

************************************************************

Have questions about the District 203 facilities referendum? Click on the D203 Decision for the Future button on the District homepage (