Yorkville voters are staring down a nearly $275 million decision on March 17, when a massive school construction and renovation package lands on the primary ballot. Yorkville Community Unit School District 115 says the bond plan would pay for two new school buildings plus major additions at Yorkville High School to ease crowding, upgrade safety, and add long-wanted amenities like an auditorium, a field house, and a new academic wing. After weeks of town halls and public meetings, the question now is whether residents are willing to foot the bill so construction and boundary changes can move ahead this year.
What’s on the March ballot
The referendum would authorize District 115 to issue roughly $275 million in general obligation bonds for two new schools and sizable additions at the high school, according to the Chicago Tribune. Tribune coverage notes the package also includes money for renovations, safety upgrades, and mechanical improvements at older campuses. District leaders are pitching it as a key piece of a multi-year facilities master plan aimed at modernizing buildings across the system.
Why district leaders say it cannot wait
Administrators point to steady enrollment growth and say the space crunch is already here, per Yorkville CUSD 115. The district serves just over 7,000 students now and projects roughly 800 more over the next five years. That growth sits on top of broader population gains, with Kendall County adding tens of thousands of residents since 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Officials say temporary classrooms and shifting programs into hallways are stopgaps, not realistic long-term fixes.
Where new schools could land, and safety worries
To prepare for new construction, district officials have requested annexation and rezoning of about 155 acres north of River Road and west of Game Farm Road that could house a future campus, according to city planning documents. Local reporting describes a 106-acre parcel there, along with a 45-acre site next to the high school, as contenders for a new middle or elementary school. Leaders have also floated donating a portion of the land to the local fire protection district. Superintendent Matt Zediker and others say the layout is designed to cut down on students crossing Game Farm Road, a safety concern parents repeatedly raised at public meetings, according to Shaw Local.
What it could mean for your tax bill
District estimates show that the owner of a home at the district’s median market value of about $323,700 would pay roughly $577 more per year in property taxes if the bond measure passes, according to district referendum materials. Officials also stress that any bond proceeds are legally earmarked for bricks and mortar, not day-to-day operating costs like salaries or supplies. Residents can plug their own numbers into an online tax calculator and review a detailed FAQ on the district’s referendum webpages.
What happens if voters say no
If the measure fails in March, the district is unlikely to walk away from the issue. Superintendent Matt Zediker told reporters that officials would probably revisit the plan and could bring a modified referendum back for the November ballot, according to the Chicago Tribune. The Tribune also reported the proposal relies on about $20 million from district reserves and calls for tearing down Yorkville Grade School to create green space and parking, resulting in a net loss of one district facility. All of that makes the March vote a critical fork in the road for how Yorkville manages its growing student population.
Town halls, community input, and what’s next
The district has already hosted several town halls and webinars to walk residents through proposed boundary changes, project costs, and the broader facilities plan. Those sessions and presentation materials are listed on the district’s website and in local coverage. As Shaw Local noted, the referendum will appear on ballots in both Kendall and Kane counties on March 17. District leaders say that if voters reject the package, they will return to the community to reshape the proposal and present new options.
