Westmont School District 201 referendum shot down by voters, again

WESTMONT – For the second time in eight months, voters rejected a request from District 201 to issue bonds to fund school improvements, but district officials are encouraged with the results.

Voters rejected the school district's referendum request on Tuesday 56 to 44 percent, or 2,208 votes to 1,737 votes, with all precincts reporting, but the effort garnered 34 more percentage points compared to a similar referendum in March, which was overwhelmingly rejected 78 to 22 percent.

This referendum asked voters for permission to issue up to $26 million in bonds to improve school facilities and address safety and access concerns.

Marie Charlton, president of the District 201 School Board, was disappointed but encouraged with the results.

"We went up a huge amount from last time," Charlton said. "Now we're going to have to regroup, discuss and see where we can go from here."

She said the board will have the option of placing a third referendum request on the ballot in April, though she insisted that the board does not yet know what direction it will take.

"It's too early," she said Wednesday, adding that the large increase in favorable votes gives her "hope" and that the board "is never going to give up on what we're doing."

Charlton thanked the group of parents who lobbied for approval of the referendum.

"No. 1, I want to really thank the parents group that went out of their way with time, energy, money and resources to support this endeavor. They are the reason we got as close as we did," she said.

For now, she's convinced District 201 schools are safe for students and staff, but that there should be urgency in the community to improve the district's outdated facilities.

"Our teachers and staff have been working with [the facilities] for over 40 years. They go out of their way to make sure there is as little interruption as possible," Charlton said. "The Westmont Police Department has also done a fantastic job with staff and students teaching them what to do should [an emergency] occur."

All results are considered unofficial until they are verified by the county clerk and absentee ballots are tallied.