“We’re extremely fortunate to be in an area that generates strong revenue through property taxes and has a long-standing relationship of trust with the district,” says Dr. Kimberly Rio, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations. For years, District 27 operated on a 13-year building addition and renovation cycle, reinvesting fund balance reserves directly back into its facilities to support student learning and staff. Recently, voters approved a referendum establishing a debt service extension base, giving the district sustainable capacity to issue debt for capital improvements both now and in the future. The current capital plan includes: health, life safety improvements across buildings—roof replacements, mechanical system upgrades, and electrical upgrades, the completion of work at Wood Oaks Junior High (6–8), where upgrades have largely been funded from reserves, major investments at Hickory Point (pre-K–2) and Shabonee (3–5) to align with those same standards as well as the new addition space at Hickory Point dedicated to early childhood and support services, including new classrooms and a multi-purpose space. That multi-purpose space is being envisioned as a shared community asset, with hopes of partnering with the public park district for broader community use. 305 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 12 NORTHBROOK SCHOOL DISTRICT 27
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