The Huntley Farmside

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Thursday, September 3,1998
TTie Hiintley Farmside
,    ^  A Press Publications newspaper a/serving the Huntley community
Volume 37 Issue 73
Referendum backers picking up steam
Steve Brosinski
Press Publications Organizers of a group in favor of School District 158's referendums to build two new elementary schools said there are more volunteers willing to campaign for this referendum than there were in the past.
When voters go to the polls Nov. 3, they will be asked to approve two $9 million referen¬ dums to build schools in Huntley and Lake in the Hills.
Twice in the past year, voters narrowly rejected two referen¬ dums to build schools at Reed Road and the Harmony Road Campus - the same locations that will appear on this ballot.
In November 1997, the Reed Road referendum failed by 22 votes. And then in March, the Harmony Road referendum lost by 18 votes. The Harmony Road Campus, which includes the High School and Middle School, was the last referendum to be passed.
According to surveys, orga¬ nizers said, a majority of the voters who were against the failed referendums reside in Lake in the Hills.
If approved, the referendums would cost a taxpayer with a home valued at $150,000 about $40 a month.
Donna Slagle, formerly a mem¬ ber of CARE and now an oiganiz- er of Positive Referendum in District 158 Education (PRIDE),
"We've gotten a
very good response.
There are parents
who want this to go
forward. They
realize hojv badly
we need the
new schools."
Donna Slagle
Organizer,.
Positive Referendum in
District 158 Education (PRIDE)
said she is encouraged by the number of people interested in campaigning this time around.
"We've gotten a very good response," said Slagle, who is the wife of School Board mem¬ ber Gary Slagle. "There are par¬ ents who want this to go for¬ ward. They realize how badly we need the new schools."
At a recent school open house, more than 100 people signed up to volunteer.
"L was very impressed. Before you pnly had 10-15 peo¬ ple sign up," she said.
PRIDE is holding their next meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, at the Huntley Elementary South cafeteria, 12015 Mill St.
School Superintendent J.R. Hartley said the schools would
provide space for between 800- 900 students in each of the schools. The village of Lake in the Hills will tum ownership of the property over to District 158.
Hartley said that unless the district builds new schools, there will little room for the expected skyrocketing enroll¬ ment.
"Our projection is that we will continue to grow 20 percent a year for the foreseeable future," Hartley said.
Last year enrollment topped at 1,700 students and in 1998 more than 2,000 students are enrolled in the four district schools.
Search for new Huntley librarian continues
Steve Brosinski
Press Publications
The members of the Huntley Area Public Library may have moved a step closer to hiring a full-time librarian this week.
Since April, the board has advertised in a national library magazine looking for someone who will head up the new library that is under construction on Ruth Road.
The board met in a special session Tuesday to interview several people who live nearby.
"We reopened applications," board member Robert Fabros said. "We felt we needed to advertise locally. Initially, we had about four people who were interested."
Ever since Jane Thompson's resignation, interim librarian Mary Jane Kepner has been in charge of operating the library and she has also assisted the board in the search for a new librarian.
"We reopened
applications. We felt
we needed to
advertise locally."
Robert Fabros
Library board member
Board member Margaret Hackworth said she was hopeful that these latest interviews would lead to the appointment of a new librarian, maybe as soon as next month.
"We are meeting with people this evening," Hackworth said.
Meanwhile, Fabros said con¬ struction of the new $2.6 mil¬ lion library is on schedule.
"We are about $60,000 over budget and we need to take money from the contingency fund," he said. "So far, we've gotten all the necessary permits
see Librarian—page 2
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Photo by Steve Brosinski
Library employee Roberta Carter takes a glimpse at the construction site of the new Huntley Area Public Library. The $2.6 million structure is expected to open in the spring. Members of the library board hope to hire a new full-time librarian within the next few weeks.