EDGINGTON, Ill. — The Rockridge School District will hold a referendum during the upcoming election that would fund a new elementary school.
According to district officials, if the referendum is passed, there will be no change to the local tax rate. The proposal would fund a new elementary school that would be located on the junior and senior high school campus, and that facility would replace the district's three current elementary schools.
The proposal comes in response to the district's rising enrollment; Rockridge has 22% more students between kindergarten and fifth grade than it did just four years ago.
In addition to providing more classrooms, the new school would have additional art, music, and physical education spaces, along with safety enhancements.
"Our current buildings are not only inefficient and costly to operate, but they also fail to provide the safe and supportive learning environment our students deserve,” Superintendent Marcus Bush said in a press release. “The excessive heat and early dismissals we've experienced this week further illustrate the urgent need for modern, climate-controlled spaces where our students can learn and thrive."
In addition to the new elementary school, the referendum would also fund air conditioning at the junior and senior high school, additional security at school entrances and improved parking around the campus.
The election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 5.