Saturday is Last Chance for Residents to Tour, Hear Presentation of Proposed New Trier Building Project

The following is from New Trier High School:

New Trier High School will hold four campus tours and presentations in September and October to share information with residents about its proposed Winnetka Campus facilities project.

This August, the District 203 Board of Education voted 7-0 to put an $89 million bond measure on the November 4th ballot. If approved, these bonds would fund a project to replace three of the oldest, most inefficient, and most ADA-inaccessible sections of the Winnetka Campus: the 1912 Cafeteria, the 1931 Tech Arts Building, and the 1950 Music/Performing Arts Building.

All residents are invited to attend the District’s upcoming informational sessions to learn more about the proposed project. All sessions will begin in the Student Cafeteria on the Winnetka Campus, 385 Winnetka Avenue. The Student Cafeteria is most easily accessed from the Woodland Avenue entrance to the school. The dates and times are:

Saturday, Sept. 20

10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m

Presentations and tours on the hour

Thursday, Oct. 2

7 p.m.

Presentation and tour

Tuesday, Oct. 14

7 p.m.

Presentation and tour

Saturday, Oct. 25

10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m

Presentations and tours on the hour

The proposed project would:

· Include more than 25 new core academic classrooms for math, social studies, English, business, and languages

· Add three science labs and new classrooms and labs for engineering and technology; New Trier currently does not have enough science labs to meet student demand in a nine-period day, meaning some students must take lab classes in summer school or in early bird classes before the regular school day

· Replace outdated heating and cooling systems with new energy-efficient systems

· Make the entire campus accessible for people with disabilities

· Avoid the cost of $6 million in planned repair and maintenance to the existing buildings over the next five years

· Enhance safety with secure entrances and fire sprinklers

· Stay on the same footprint of land while doubling the amount of usable building space on that portion of the campus

· Include a new library and new spaces for the music, theatre, and art programs

· Replace the 1912 cafeteria with one that can seat all students assigned to each lunch period

The bond measure would cost Township homeowners an estimated $16.67 per $1,000 in taxes paid on an annual property tax bill. For example, a resident with a $15,000 property tax bill would pay an additional $250 per year until the bonds expire in 20 years. Residents can calculate their estimated tax impact using a calculator on the District’s website at www.newtrier.k12.il.us/facilitiesresearch.

For more information about the proposal, including a printable FAQ, please visit New Trier’s facilities website at http://www.newtrier.k12.il.us/facilitiesresearch.