St. Charles CUSD 303
201 South 7th Street
St. Charles, IL 60174
The D303 Communitywide Education Facilities Committee Charge Statement:
D303 is committed to working in partnership and collaborating with our community to update and advance the facility planning work first undertaken five years ago by the Educational Facility Planning Committee. Through an inclusive, districtwide engagement process, we will gather diverse perspectives to ensure our facilities reflect today’s community expectations and priorities and support safe, intentional, and well-designed learning environments. The engagement process will also include a detailed explanation of the funding options available to D303 and how a communitywide facilities investment would affect tax bills. This renewed, communitywide effort and collaboration will culminate in a report to the Board that builds on prior work and balances long-term facility planning with the shared vision of our community.
The fifth D303 Education Facilities Committee was held on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. This meeting focused on School Financing and Funding. D303 Chief School Business Official Jennifer Porter provided the Committee with an overview of how school funding works and the restrictions on how the district's regular property tax revenue can be spent. That was followed by D303 Executive Director of Facilities Amanda Stuber's presentation of a sampling of potential facilities investments and their estimated costs. Jennifer then concluded the presentation with an overview of the funding available options for a facilities investment, and she shared a breakdown of the estimated tax-bill impact of a facilities referendum. Following the presentation, Committee members worked in small groups to discuss and give priority rankings to each of the potential facilities investments that were included in the presentation.
The fourth D303 Education Facilities Committee was held on Tuesday, January 27th, 2026. This meeting focused on Enrollment and Capacity. D303 Assistant Superintendents of Elementary and Secondary Education Audra Christenson and Jarrod Buxton gave a school-by-school overview of space and capacity issues. Committee members then worked together in small groups to help come up with and prioritize different solutions at each school level.
The third D303 Education Facilities Committee was held on Tuesday, January 13th, 2026. This meeting focused on the State of D303 Facilities. D303 Executive Director of Facilities Amanda Stuber presented the Committee with a detailed update on the condition of our buildings and learning facilities. Committee members then discussed the information and worked together in small groups to provide feedback on what types of maintenance and improvements are most essential in meeting the expectations they have for our schools and facilities.
The second D303 Education Facilities Committee was held on Tuesday, December 9th, 2025. This meeting focused on Academic Programming and Student Experiences. Committee members worked together in small groups to start sharing their priorities to make sure our schools and learning facilities are meeting the needs of our students and the expectations of our community.
D303 officially kicked off the work of the D303 Communitywide Education Facilities Committee on November 18. More than 100 parents, students, staff, and community members volunteered and joined to be a part of this important conversation about the future of D303 schools and learning facilities.
D303 sends out their post card to the community to help share the news about the committee and encourage people to join and participate.
D303 schools share the new Education Facilities Committee graphic in their eNews letters sent to families.
D303 sends out an email to all staff, families and high school students about the new Education Facilities Committee.
The D303 School Board receives and discusses a presentation titled, "Investing in D303's Education Facilities" and then directs D303 leadership to create an "inclusive, districtwide" process to discuss facilities' needs and issue a culminating report to the School Board.
Supporting Our Students and Sustaining Excellence for Their Future Success
Our buildings have significant, basic upkeep and maintenance needs that have been continually deferred due to a lack of available funding in the district’s regular operating budget. The district is no longer keeping pace with community expectations for our students and the demands of a rapidly changing workforce.
This work is about ensuring our students learn in environments that are safe and efficient and aligned with the high standards of excellence our community and we hold for our students and their education.
Our schools are facing three pressures:
To remain a destination district and community, our facilities must support strong results and help us meet our D303 Commitment Statement: Together Building Pathways to Excellence.
Please click here to read our Community Facilities Report, and click here to go to our Facilities Presentation (I would change this to the shorter deck).
Better facilities create better daily learning and experiences for students, better future career opportunities, and a stronger school district and community. Facilities shape the daily experience of every student.
A districtwide investment in schools and learning facilities supports:
Students will learn in safer, more engaging, and more effective environments.
A districtwide investment in schools and learning facilities would:
Please click here to read our Community Facilities Report, and click here to go to our Facilities Presentation.
Our buildings are aging and no longer fully supporting student needs. The committee identified three key needs:
Please click here to read our Community Facilities Report, and click here to go to our Facilities Presentation.
It has been decades since the District invested in significant, system-wide improvements to major facility needs, such as roofs, heating/cooling systems, plumbing, concrete, and parking lots. While the District has consistently allocated a portion of its operating budget to capital improvements, that level of funding is not enough to cover long-standing upkeep and maintenance needs. There is very limited funding available in the District’s regular operating budget for facilities needs.
Over time, buildings age, student needs evolve, and costs increase, compounding the gap between needs and available resources–particularly in a school district of our size and scope. The District has continued to invest each year, but annual funding is not designed or intended to cover large-scale maintenance or improvements.
Please click here to read our Community Facilities Report, and click here to go to our Facilities Presentation.
Most of the District’s regular operating budget pays for teachers, staff, and student programs. Only a small portion is available and allocated for building repairs and improvements. Please see the graphic below, which shows how our local tax dollars are used to support our school district.
Large projects like roof or heating/cooling-system replacements cost far more than can be covered each year.
That is why school districts generally ask voters to approve referendums for major repairs and improvements and districtwide investments in facilities.
Please click here to read our Community Facilities Report, and click here to go to our Facilities Presentation.
Bottom line: This is a system issue typical for most school districts.
The needs do not go away; they increase. And costs generally go up with inflation. At some point, the community must make a districtwide investment in its schools. The Board has three options to fund facilities improvements: #1. General Operating Funds (what we do currently), #2. Health/Life Safety Bonds (This does increase taxes, and the projects are approved by the Illinois State Board of Education). #3 Referendum (This is voter-approved and only moves forward with a majority vote by D303 voters)
Delaying action makes the problem more expensive and harder to solve.
Please click here to read our Community Facilities Report, and click here to go to our Facilities Presentation.
D303 is a destination community. Families move here because of the schools. Property values are strong because of the strong schools.
Strong Schools = A Strong Community.
This investment would support:
Please click here to read our Community Facilities Report, and click here to go to our Facilities Presentation.
This is a comprehensive plan to address real needs across the District. The plan targets both urgent needs and opportunities to improve our students’ academic opportunities and achievement.
The plan includes 16 major projects across the district to:
Please click here to read our Community Facilities Report, and click here to go to our Facilities Presentation.
The plan focuses on essential repairs and improved student learning spaces and facilities. This investment would improve the day-to-day work of our students and staff and create better facilities designed to support future career success.
Please click here to read our Community Facilities Report, and click here to go to our Facilities Presentation.
Students will have greater access to programs and real-world learning experiences that prepare them for life beyond high school. This investment would expand access to:
These improvements ensure students can explore their interests, build relevant skills, and engage in meaningful, hands-on learning.
Please click here to read our Community Facilities Report, and click here to go to our Facilities Presentation.
This plan balances maintaining what we have with improving what we need, and improving our schools as part of our continuing commitment to our students’ future success.
The plan includes:
Please click here to read our Community Facilities Report, and click here to go to our Facilities Presentation.
The Committee of more than 100 members of the D303 Community determined that a smaller plan would leave many of the District’s most critical needs unresolved. And the costs of unmet needs would increase over time. A comprehensive investment allows the District to meet the Community’s expectations and priorities–meeting our students’ and educators’ facilities needs system-wide, thereby reducing inefficiencies and creating lasting improvements.
Delaying or scaling back the work leads to:
Please click here to read our Community Facilities Report, and click here to go to our Facilities Presentation.
Every school would get a facilities’ investment. The list would be prioritized based on need. Older schools require more updates. Over the next few months, the D303 School Board, District leadership, and members of the Community Facilities Committee will discuss the specifics of the projects at each school. Please keep engaging with us to learn more.
Please click here to read our Community Facilities Report, and click here to go to our Facilities Presentation.
The District has invested consistently, but major needs remain. Over the last four years, the District 303 Board and District leadership have made a significant reinvestment in our facilities. However, the magnitude of the needs is beyond what our general operating budget can sustain.
The district has invested in:
Please click here to read our Community Facilities Report, and click here to go to our Facilities Presentation.
If the School Board votes to place a referendum on the ballot, the community will decide whether to invest in our schools, funding major facility improvements. A referendum, if passed, will increase your taxes.
Please click here to read our Community Facilities Report, and click here to go to our Facilities Presentation.
Daily operations and major facilities projects are funded differently. The annual budget pays for staff, daily operations, and basic maintenance. A referendum funds long-term facilities upkeep and improvements.
Please click here to read our Community Facilities Report, and click here to go to our Facilities Presentation.
These funds are strictly for facilities. Not for salaries or daily expenses. By law, the referendum funds can only be used for:
Buildings and renovations
Safety and infrastructure
Bottom line: Funds cannot be used for anything other than facilities.
The D303 Communitywide Education Facilities Committee supports a total proposed investment of $295.6 million. However, the District 303 School Board will take the next several months to review, analyze, and evaluate all the projects. The Board will then make a final decision if they want to move forward with a referendum, use Health and Life Safety Bonds, or continue to fund capital projects with general operating dollars.
Please click here to read our Community Facilities Report, and click here to go to our Facilities Presentation.
If the D303 School Board made the decision to support the Community Facility Committee’s full recommendation, the property tax increase would be an estimated $777* per year–or roughly $65/month–for a $500,000 homeowner. However, the D303 School Board will determine the full scope of the project and whether to place the referendum on the ballot for voters to decide.
Please click here to read our Community Facilities Report, and click here to go to our Facilities Presentation.
*The estimated cost figures and associated tax impacts are intended to provide a general understanding of the potential referendum investment. All referendum dollar amounts presented are preliminary, planning-level estimates, and actual costs may vary based on interest rates, timing, and final project scope.
Yes, if a referendum is approved by voters, it would result in an increase in property taxes, in the form of a separate tax line dedicated to paying for the facilities investment that was approved by voters.
Please click here to read our Community Facilities Report, and click here to go to our Facilities Presentation.
Yes, this process included broad community engagement. All members of the D303 Community who applied to serve on the D303 Communitywide Education Facilities Committee were accepted as Committee Members. The Committee process included five months of meetings and discussions, continual feedback opportunities, and school tours. Surveys of D303 students, staff, families, and community members were also used to gather input. All of the Committee’s activities and feedback are documented on the Facilities Committee website.
The Committee’s Final Report gives voice to the Community’s expectations and priorities for its schools.
Please click here to read our Community Facilities Report, and click here to go to our Facilities Presentation.
97% of committee members supported funding the full package.
Please click here to read our Community Facilities Report, and click here to go to our Facilities Presentation.
The last referendum passed by the D303 Community was in 2002, and it was for land and the construction of a new school. It has been over 30 years since the District addressed district-wide deferred maintenance.
Please click here to read our Community Facilities Report, and click here to go to our Facilities Presentation.
There will be clear oversight and transparency. The District will provide updates, timelines, and oversight. The D303 School Board ensures strong accountability. Progress will be visible, and updates will be provided regularly.
Please click here to read our Community Facilities Report, and click here to go to our Facilities Presentation.
The needs will remain and likely become more expensive. The D303 School Board and leadership will review other options detailed in the presentation and report. As was discussed in detail throughout the Committee process, the other funding options are: continued facilities patchwork with the limited operating funds available, and limited and uncertain Health and Life Safety Bonds, which must be approved by the D303 School Board and the Illinois State Board of Education. These bonds can only be used for essential safety repairs. Accessibility and programmatic upgrades cannot be funded with these bonds.
As a result, what will likely happen is:
Please click here to read our Community Facilities Report, and click here to go to our Facilities Presentation.
Over the next several months, the School Board, District leadership, and, at times, members of the Facilities Committee will go in-depth on the projects and costs and determine which funding option the Board wants to move forward with to address these significant concerns.
Bottom line: The process is ongoing, and the Board will remain very active in determining the next steps.
Please click here to read our Community Facilities Report, and click here to go to our Facilities Presentation.
Boundaries improved balance and building efficiency, not building conditions.
The boundary process was highly successful and achieved its intended goals. It ensured that our schools are being used more efficiently and that enrollment is more balanced across all elementary schools. Prior to the change, some schools were significantly underutilized while others were approaching or exceeding capacity. The updated boundaries brought each school closer to an equitable range, improving access to resources and opportunities for all students.
Second, the process aligned each school to its best and intended use. All elementary schools transitioned to a consistent K–5 model. This eliminated the previous pairing of Davis Elementary School and Richmond Elementary School, where students were split between K–2 and 3–5. Moving to a K–5 structure creates a more cohesive experience for students and families.
Strong Schools = Strong Communities.
The quality of our schools directly impacts the strength and stability of your property value, as homebuyers consistently seek out communities with strong, well-maintained schools. A referendum protects that value by ensuring our facilities keep pace with expectations, rather than declining over time and weakening demand. It also preserves the community's overall strength, benefiting homeowners through sustained desirability, stability, and long-term investment value.
Many of these facility issues have developed over decades. The District attempted to pass referendums in the early 2000s, but those efforts were unsuccessful. No referendum has been passed in the past 24 years, and none have been attempted in the past 17 years.
During that time, the District invested approximately $2–3 million annually in facility improvements, with increased investment over the past three years. However, the general operating budget is not sufficient to address large-scale needs.
Like most school districts in Illinois and across the country, we rely on referendums to fund major projects and address districtwide upkeep and maintenance needs.
Please click here to read our Community Facilities Report, and click here to go to our Facilities Presentation.
Students will have better learning environments and more opportunities. We have significant accessibility issues at two of our elementary schools: Wild Rose and Davis Elementary. This plan addresses those issues. We are looking to enhance and expand our Career and Technical Education classroom environments to align with the rapidly changing workforce needs and career skills our students will encounter.
The plan supports enhancements at each school, based on need and age. Our students will all benefit from our facilities operating more efficiently.
Please click here to read our Community Facilities Report, and click here to go to our Facilities Presentation.
Stable enrollment does not mean facilities are up to date. Buildings continue to age, and expectations and workforce skills have rapidly changed. This is about quality, not quantity.
