Henry-Senachwine School District #5 - Master Facility Planning - Update
At the September 25th Henry-Senachwine CUSD #5 Board of Education meeting, the Board of Education authorized entering into an agreement with Midwest Construction Professionals (MCP) to proceed with the design development phase of the proposed high school academic wing addition, in conjunction with BCA Architects. At the meeting, the status of District project work, the design and development of the high school academic wing addition, and upcoming timelines were discussed.
The priority of the District is to proceed with the design and development of the new high school academic wing addition and any health/life safety/maintenance project items identified throughout the District. The current project timeline outlines that bid specifications for the high school academic wing addition and additional project work are planned to be developed and released this February, 2025. Once bids are received, District action to accept bids for the new high school academic wing addition and additional project work is anticipated this coming April, 2025. This timeline will allow for work on a new high school academic wing addition to begin in the spring of 2025, with the intent of the high school addition being completed for the start of the 2026-2027 school year.
As previously shared, the District does not plan on having the new high school addition and facility project work voted on through referendum, but intends to fund the addition and District project work by issuing bonds to borrow the funding. The current statutory debt limit/borrowing capacity of the District is approximately $18 million. In the coming months, the District will begin the process of taking steps to finance the new high school addition and any additional facility project work. This process will begin at the upcoming October 16th Board of Education meeting, when the Board will take action on declaring its intent to proceed with the financing and on a resolution for interim debt certificate financing. At the Board of Education meeting on November 20th, the Board will take action on declaring its intent to proceed with financing, pass a funding bond resolution to start a 30-day petition period, and hold a funding bond hearing. At the Board of Education meeting on January 15th, the Board will take action on a bond resolution to issue the funding bonds for a new high school academic wing addition and additional project work.
A representative from Bernardi Securities met with property taxpayers individually in August to provide an estimate of the property tax increase associated with funding project costs and the high school addition. On those dates in August, building tours of Henry-Senachwine High School were also available to those interested. For those interested in viewing the current conditions of the high school, additional building tours of Henry-Senachwine High School have been scheduled for Wednesday, October 16th from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. and for Friday, November 15th from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., during “Meet the Birds Night”.
The District will provide updates on its master facility planning on its website at www.hscud5.org, under tab ‘Master Facility Planning”. Renderings of the high school academic addition are also available on the District website. The Henry-Senachwine Board of Education will continue to meet monthly and welcomes public attendance at the meetings.
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael Miller
Superintendent