Didn District 39 have a referendum just last year that failed?
No. The referendum that Wilmette voters saw on the ballot in 2010 was for New Trier Township High School District 203 (serving students from Kenilworth, Glencoe, Winnetka, Avoca, Sunset Ridge/Northfield, and Wilmette), which was seeking $174 million to renovate New Trier High School’s Winnetka campus. That effort failed. Wilmette District 39 is a completely separate school district, serving students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. We have different Boards, different budgets, and a different taxpayer base. The current District 39 referendum is seeking $6.375 million to fund operations for Wilmette’s four elementary schools (Central, Harper, McKenzie and Romona), Highcrest Middle School, and Wilmette Junior High. District 39’s current referendum is unrelated to New Trier’s unsuccessful referendum last year. None of the funds raised in District 39’s efforts will be allocated toward New Trier Township’s capital needs or operations.
