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Overdue School: Illinois Releases Funds for New Du Quoin High School

Posted May 13, 2010 11:00 pm

John H. Croessman

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Eight years after promising to help build and repair old schools, the state of Illinois is finally delivering the money.

State officials announced Thursday that they're releasing nearly $149 million to 24 schools around the state, including Du Quoin Community Unit District 300 and the Johnston City and Benton elementary school systems.

The schools were first promised the money under Republican Gov. George Ryan in 2002 as part of a massive capital construction program. Some raised local matching funds and launched projects because they were told the money was coming. In fact, according to District 300 superintendent Dr. Gary Kelly, many went ahead and bonded for the projects locally, and the schools have already been built.

Hopes of getting the money rose and fell dramatically under Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The Chicago Democrat held a rally at one of the waiting school districts and all but guaranteed he'd pass a public works program to deliver the money. He didn't.

Later, the schools thought they had succeeded in getting legislation passed that included their money. At the last minute, Blagojevich announced he was interpreting the law in a way that would prevent the funds from being released.

The state Capital Development Board felt it was important that the schools finally get their money, said spokesman Dave Blanchette, and "Governor Quinn agreed with us that they had waited long enough." Obviously, release of the funds during a race for governor has political value.

Dr. Kelly said he received a faxed copy of a letter May 10 from the Illinois Capital Development board verifying the approval of Du Quoin's funding. He said he is looking for a packet from the CDB in the near future containing an intergovernmental agreement and other documents. He is also hoping for a "statement of adjustment" which has been promised. The costs of Du Quoin's construction program have grown from $13 million in 2002 to $18 million now. Those districts which have already completed construction will receive reimbursements.

Dr. Kelly said he will meet in the near future with Mayor John Rednour and the city council about reinstating the proceeds from a half-cent sales tax which was designed to help retire the local share of bonding on the new school. As hopes faded two years ago for the funding, the council voted to end escrowing the proceeds for District 300 and started taking the money for use by the city even though it was the voters themselves who approved the referendum that the money be used for the school.

The city two years ago turned well over $300,000 in the escrow account to the district. Supt. Kelly says the district has hung onto those funds, enough to make the first year's bond payment. The half-cent tax should continue to generate over $300,000 a year.

Because eight years of delays have relegated the once-fresh and enthusiastic program to the bun warmer everyone will have to wake up to this announcement. The board has accomplished many improvements at VanMetre Field and Anders Gymnasium. The west end of the existing school--which is being incorporated into the new construction--has already been replaced at a cost of $1 million. The high school has new parking.

Dr. Kelly said as design work on the school itself is freshened the first phases will include construction of the new vocational-technical school on the southeast corner of the grounds at a cost of $1.2 million. The existing gym lobby, band room and R.P. Hibbs auditorium will receive extreme makeovers. "If we are to preserve our history (in speech and music) these renovations have to be first class," he said. That lobby area and connecting gym and auditorium will be the first impression visitors have. With that work accomplished over the next year to14 months, construction of the new high school itself could begin in the summer of 2011. The plan now is to build the new school behind the existing school, incorporating much of the original design. The relatively new baseball complex south of the existing school would be moved southwest onto the Big S Transport property. Dr. Kelly said the board and the Siefert family have an ongoing understanding that purchase of that property has been a goal. "They are very good people and have been good neighbors to the district," said Dr. Kelly. He said soil borings will have to be done behind the current school and two underground storage tanks have to be removed.

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