Mythbusters

Myth: Isn't it more appropriate to renovate the current high school to fix the capacity issues?

Many people have expressed concern over building a new high school. It has been said that renovation of the existing high school to increase capacity would be just as effective and would cost less. Part 1 of the District's plan consists of constructing a new high school on property to the west of Katz Park on Dresser road for a total cost of $88.5 million.

In the table below you will see the estimated cost of renovating the high school. This renovation includes adding new classrooms, core facilities such as bathrooms, and health and safety modifications as well.

As you can see the cost of renovating the current DeKalb High School is still roughly $75 million.

The District's plan however isn't just about one building. By building a new high School, the District is able to renovate and reuse the existing DHS, Huntley and Chesebro buildings for purposes that their capacity and layout are more suited too.

If we renovated DHS instead of building a new school, all of the opportunities to reuse the existing buildings is lessened, and the need to costruct a new Middle School at a cost of $33 million would necessary.

The combined cost of renovating the existing high school and building a new middle school would be over $108 million dollars, and we would still need to construct 2 elementary schools ($30 million).

Simply put, the District, Facilities Planning Committee and over 800 members of the community have come together over the last two years and have discussed the possibilities. The plan is comprehensive, fiscally responsible and the right choice for this community. Vote Yes on February 5th.

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Myth: It is being said that Malta Elementary would be closed under the Districts plan?

bustedThere are currently no plans to close Malta Elementary School.

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Myth: I have heard that the renovation of the High School and conversion into a Middle School would be followed by the closing of Clinton Rosette?

Clinton Rosette is an integral piece of the ten year Facilities Plan.

Rosette currently has 700 students and is expected to grow. A number of attendance boundary changes will need to be adjusted throughout the district, however, Clinton Rosette will remain open, and is even scheduled to have an addition in the second phase of the ten year plan.

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