The ballot language
Official ballot question · sd308.org/update308
Shall the Board of Education of Oswego Community Unit School District Number 308, Kendall, Kane and Will Counties, Illinois, alter, repair and equip existing school buildings, including security improvements, secure entryways, access controls and intrusion detection systems, and enhanced cameras; infrastructure repairs, including replacing roofing, mechanical, plumbing, and HVAC systems; science lab improvements; expansions to shared cafeteria/gym spaces; and improvements to provide enhanced energy efficiency; and issue bonds of said School District to the amount of $317,000,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?
HVAC and roofs are real. Call out the extras the marketing slides bury:
- science lab improvements
- expansions to shared cafeteria/gym spaces
- “alter, repair and equip”
- energy-efficiency improvements
The district’s own FAQ also lists classroom additions at one school, turf stadium and ball fields, renovated bathrooms, “enhanced building aesthetics,” sensory spaces, and “design improvements to promote inclusivity.” That is not a roof-only program.
Percentage shell game
Same official ecosystem, different numbers:
| Source | Claim |
|---|---|
| Fast Facts bullet on sd308.org/update308 | 77% core infrastructure |
| Narrative on the same page | 79% |
| District breakdown | $250 million of $317 million ≈ 79% (roofing, HVAC, plumbing) |
| Town-hall reporting | ~12% safety/security, ~9% “educational” |
The dollar split the district posted: $250 million infrastructure, $30 million safety and security, $37 million “learning environments and other facility/site improvements.” When two official numbers conflict, print both. The district should pick one.
“Protected by law” — say this accurately
Referendum bond proceeds cannot be used for salaries, benefits, or day-to-day operations. That sentence on the district site is true. It is also a dodge.
- Operating taxes already pay salaries and central office.
- Bond cash can replace operating cash that would have gone to emergency repairs (Boulder Hill cooling, Oswego East PAC). That operating cash is then free for other uses.
- “100% goes where promised” means 100% goes to capital items on a list the board interprets after the vote. Illinois school bonds do not require a California-style independent citizens’ oversight committee.
If the referendum fails
The roofs do not vanish. The district still has an Operations & Maintenance levy, remaining debt-service capacity, and the ability to phase work. It has already done emergency projects without $317 million. Failure means they have to prioritize. That is the point.