District 87 Referendum Narrowly Passes As Election Results Certified

GLEN ELLYN, IL — By a narrow margin, voters favored a $187 million bond referendum question presented by Glenbard District 87 in the 2024 General Primary Election. The DuPage County Clerk's Office certified the results from the election Tuesday.

The certified results are as follows, per the DuPage County Clerk's website:

Yes: 12,491

No: 12,087

Here is how the question appeared to voters on the March 19 ballot:

Shall the Board of Education of Glenbard Township High School District Number 87, DuPage County, Illinois, install safety and security improvements, increase accessibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act, repair and replace mechanical systems, roofs and other infrastructure, improve energy efficiency and technology infrastructure, renovate classrooms, science labs, vocational labs and learning spaces and undertake other building and site improvements to, and purchase equipment for, each of the School District’s four high schools – Glenbard East, Glenbard North, Glenbard South and Glenbard West – and issue its bonds to the amount of $183,000,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?

In late 2023, the district had approved putting the referendum question on the ballot for the 2024 general primary election, planning to use the funds to repair and upgrade its four high schools.

Glenbard West, which was built in 1923, is the district's oldest high school. Glenbard South was built in 1972, making it the district's newest high school.

District 87's 10-year facility master plan allots $312 million to fund upgrades and improvements to the four high schools. Of this amount, the district plans to use $129 million in operating revenue over a 10-year period.

Priorities outlined in the master plan include:

• Cafeteria improvements
• Classroom improvements
• Security system and safety upgrades
• Science lab upgrades
• Upgrades to electrical and plumbing systems, roofing and other building infrastructure

On Tuesday, District 87 officials released a statement sharing their gratitude to residents who voted on the referendum.

Homeowners can click the link to see how the proposed bond referendum would impact their property taxes.