IPSD 204 is comprised of 35 buildings, including 21 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, 3 high schools, a freshman center for Neuqua, an alternative high school, a preschool/administrative center, and a building that is beyond its useful life.

The District’s 35 school buildings range in age from 15 to 57 years old, with half of them built around 35 years ago.

Yes. IPSD 204 properly maintains and repairs its buildings. However, there are major capital improvements associated with aging, outdated infrastructure that need to be addressed to extend the life of the schools and protect these important community assets.

The limiting rate referendum would address the following capital improvements:

• Districtwide security upgrades, including the addition of secure entry vestibules, access controls, intrusion detection, and surveillance equipment
• Districtwide infrastructure improvements tied to air quality, building systems, roofing, health/life safety, site upgrades, and energy efficiency
• Comprehensive renovation of four schools: Waubonsie Valley High School, Hill Middle School, Gregory Middle School, and Neuqua Valley High School
• Improving operational efficiency by repurposing Birkett and decommissioning the Wheatland and Indian Plains buildings
• Renovating elementary schools, including upgrades to classrooms, libraries, kindergarten, and student services and special education spaces
• Expanding elementary school instructional space on the north side of the District
• Renovating middle schools, including upgrades to classrooms, encore spaces, student services, and special education spaces
• Establishing a consistent maintenance and capital improvement schedule to protect what has been improved

There are a few schools, including Waubonsie Valley High School, Hill Middle School, and Gregory Middle School, that are in worse condition than the other schools. Extensive renovation work would be done at these schools.

No new schools would be constructed. The proposed capital improvements are focused on repairs, renovations, and a few additions.

None of the District’s current school buildings would be closed. However, to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs, the Wheatland and Indian Plains buildings would be decommissioned. Additionally, the proposed improvements would enable freshmen to move from the Birkett Center into Neuqua Valley High School. This would allow both the STEPS transition program and Gail McKinzie High School to be relocated into the Birkett Center.

Yes. The plan calls for additional elementary school instructional spaces. However, a new school would not be needed.

At 26.3 students per class, IPSD 204 has one of the highest average class sizes among its peer districts. For example, Naperville 203 has an average class size of 22.9, and Wheaton 200 has about 21.6 students per class. Considering that the state average is 20.8, and some of our middle and high school classes contain 30 or more students, reducing class sizes is an important goal of the limiting rate proposal.

Yes. Naperville 203 has a much lower pupil-to-counselor ratio. Following is a breakdown of the ratios for each district:

Ratio of Students to Counselors (Middle School)

• Indian Prairie 204: 424 Students:1 Counselor
• Naperville 203: 225 Students:1 Counselor

Ratio of Students to Counselors (High School)

• Indian Prairie 204: 267 Students:1 Counselor
• Naperville 203: 180 Students:1 Counselor

Ratio of Students to Counselors (All Schools)

• Indian Prairie 204: 315 Students:1 Counselor
• Naperville 203: 196 Students:1 Counselor

IPSD 204 has the lowest operating expense per pupil compared to peer districts, and at $15,524 per student, is well below the statewide average of $17,776. Conversely, all our peer districts are above the statewide average. For example, Naperville 203 spends $18,838 per student and Barrington 220 spends $21,515.

Approximately 40 new positions, including teachers, counselors, and other mental health professionals would be added to help reduce class sizes and strengthen student support services.