Voters in Shelbyville will see a referendum question on their spring primary ballot relating to the city’s public school district.  That primary election day is set for Tuesday, March 17.  In December, the Board of Education voted to approve the addition of the referendum to the ballot.  They are asking for the public’s support for the construction of a new building to house the elementary school.  The price tag for this project would be $40 million.  The school district would like to hear voters’ input and will provide opportunities to do so. 

The ballot question reads: “Shall the Board of Education of Shelbyville Community Unit School District #4, Shelby County, Illinois, build and equip a new Shelbyville Elementary School Building, alter, repair, renovate, and equip portions of the existing facilities of the district and improve sites, and issue bonds of said school district to the amount of $40,000,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?”  Voters will choose either “yes” or “no.”

Shelbyville school superintendent Shane Schuricht is overseeing this process and would continue to do so for the project if the vote passes.  He says the current building is over a century old and short on space.

If the vote passes, the district would then face the question of what to do with the “old” elementary school building when the new one is ready for use.  All options are on the table, including selling it and demolishing it.

As for how the work would be financed, the school district would have five years to access up to $40 million in bonds.  Schuricht believes the district has managed finances well, saying in part that the use of taxpayer funds has saved them money and kept them out of debt.

The school district plans to hold information sessions to discuss the referendum and answer voters’ questions.  Dates have not yet been determined, but they plan to reach out to voters when the sessions are scheduled. 

More information on the Shelbyville Community School District #4 is available at www.shelbyville.k12.il.us.

Shane Schuricht appeared as a guest on the WTIM Shelbyville Morning Show.