While our school district, Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5, does the best it can with the funding available, they are approaching the end of their ability to keep up. The district is funded at only 73% adequacy, designated by the state as a Tier 1 district, meaning they are among the lowest funded districts. Making this even more challenging is the rising cost of education, with students needing more support today than ever before. And with record inflation, they are unable to keep up with the cost of maintaining our aging school buildings, with one school set to reach 100 years old next year and another at 88 years old.

 

A recent assessment of the district’s facilities identified 416 infrastructure projects that need to be addressed totaling $117 million, with most of that work needing to be done in the next decade. While they’ve made significant investments into safety and security, more upgrades are needed, including to security cameras, fire alarms, and doors. Electrical and plumbing infrastructure is aging, demonstrated by the water main break at the middle school which almost forced multiple school day cancellations. Upgrades and replacements are needed to windows and athletic facilities. Roofs are leaking, flooring and ceilings need replacement, and some furniture is outdated. Mechanicals are deteriorating and failing, causing disruptions to student learning and leaving multiple buildings without sufficient heat. Parking lots are crumbling. 

 

Thanks to the community’s approval of the one cent county sales tax in 2018, the district has been able to address some of the highest priority capital projects. They’ve made investments in school infrastructure, safety and security, and mechanicals. But even with this additional funding, they can only afford to spend $5 million per year on capital needs and maintenance, which will leave the district short of being able to address all currently identified needs.

 

That’s why our community came together to develop a plan for the future of our schools. Throughout 2025, we collaborated on a plan to improve our district, one which will have minimal impact on taxpayers because the district is responsibly paying off debt. This $110 million plan, with a tax impact of just $145/year for the average homeowner, will now appear on our ballots in the upcoming March 17th election.

 

When we vote yes, the referendum will make our schools safer by addressing our district’s infrastructure and mechanical needs. 

 

The district will be able to enhance security measures for students and staff even more by replacing failing fire alarm systems and upgrading security cameras and doors. They will make significant infrastructure repairs and replacements for leaking roofs, deteriorating interior walls, and aging electrical, plumbing, ceilings, flooring, doors, and windows. We will have safer and more energy efficient school buildings through investments in mechanical systems, including replacing failing HVAC systems and aging water heaters and updating kitchen equipment. And they will be able to replace and expand crumbling parking lots throughout the district and add sidewalks to improve accessibility and safety.

 

In a community that takes so much pride in our schools, we know our kids deserve better. Vote yes on the referendum!