Frequently Asked Questions

The District created this FAQ highlighting questions that community members posed. For any questions not addressed here, Superintendent Vincent's contact information is listed below.

Why is Galena School
District #120 placing a bond referendum
on the March 2024 ballot?

The District seeks to protect and improve the high school by addressing the building’s most pressing capital facility needs. The proposed improvements would help create a healthier, safer, and more secure school while extending the building’s useful life, reducing costly and disruptive emergency repairs, enhancing ADA accessibility, improving energy efficiency, and strengthening the District’s ability to provide continued excellence in education.

What is the proposed construction timeline?

Pending referendum approval, pre-referendum design activities may be released in order to begin the first phase of construction in the early summer of 2025. The finished classrooms will be ready for the 1st semester of the 2026-27 school year and the gym addition would be ready prior to the start of the the 27-28 school year.

The District, architect, and construction management team will work together to develop a phasing plan that is least disruptive to school operations but still allows the work to pace out as efficiently as possible to be cost competitive. A tentative schedule can be found here.

What is the exact ballot question on March 19, 2024?

Shall the Board of Education of Galena Unit School District Number 120, Jo Daviess County, Illinois, build and equip a classroom addition to and alter, repair and equip the Galena High School Building, including installing school safety and security improvements and replacing heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, improve school sites and issue bonds of said School District to the amount of $14,200,000 for the purpose of paying the

costs thereof?

What if the
referendum fails?

The biggest challenge is that the longer the District waits to address its highest-priority facility needs, the more it will cost. This means the total cost would increase or the scope of improvements would need to be significantly reduced.

How quickly will the
District return to the ballot for additional funding if the 2024 referendum is successful?

The District will not come back to voters for another bond referendum, as we believe that the remaining facility needs can be accomplished through operational savings with the proposed project, as well as grants and philanthropic funding.

Has the District properly maintained the high school?

Yes. The District continues to invest each year in the general maintenance of our high school, but the facility has major infrastructure needs such as HVAC, asbestos removal, ADA accessibility, and bringing plumbing/electrical to code. These major infrastructure upgrades and instructional space improvements cannot be addressed without additional local funding.

How has the District done its due diligence
by identifying and prioritizing its capital facility needs?

The District began vetting solutions to GHS by conducting facility, educational, and financial assessments to determine its most pressing building needs. A Facility Planning Group has been meeting since January 2023 and is composed of community members with significant construction and planning expertise. This group has met for fourteen meetings and spent dozens of hours objectively reviewing facility needs and solutions to determine next steps and begin crafting a funding proposal. Members of this group were facility experts from our community and beyond.

What options were considered as part of this process?

The High School Facility Planning Group considered all options for the future of the high school:

OPTION 1–Additions to existing GHS (approx. 38,000 sf), complete renovation of approx. half of existing GHS, minor renovations of approx. 1⁄2 of existing GHS, deconstruction and replacement of music suite; overall estimated project cost–$31,625,000
OPTION 2–New construction on southern portion of campus–$33,440,375
OPTION 3–Addition to existing GPS (approx. 50,000 sf), complete renovation of GPS (Larson & Larson Builders)–$32,690,585
OPTION 4–New construction on northern portion of campus–$36,436,500
OPTION 5–Phasing the project every 5 years with revenue available, but with multiple phases over estimated 35 years–$55,700,000
OPTION 6–Additions to existing GHS, complete renovation of approx. 30% of existing GHS, demolition of balance of existing GHS–$28,380,620
OPTION 7–No additions or renovations, only fix deficiencies, no work to address security or programming, does include air conditioning but not secure entry and would still require a referendum–$21,000,000

How did you arrive at your estimates for the options?

The District worked with a construction consultant who has experience with the current marketplace in school construction projects. The consultant worked independently and used jobs that have been recently completed and subcontractor pricing on schools in the area. To arrive at the total estimate, the project was broken down into 33 separate divisions to arrive at that total and can be considered very accurate in all options considered.

In addition, the Iowa City Public Schools Facility Director is a grandfather of students in our district and part of this Facility Planning Committee. He intensely reviewed all of the data provided and corroborated the pricing, the selected option, and the methods to arrive at the specific pricing.

What are the
deficiencies of the current high school as it is now?

There are too many to mention that affect the education, safety, and comfort for the students in our District. There is asbestos in most of the tile in the original 1957 building, there is no air conditioning or efficient heating, the building is not up to code with proper ADA requirements for people with disabilities, the cast iron sewer pipes are deteriorating (some pipes are rotted and liquid is running on clay underneath the building), the entire building is in need of brick repair/tuckpointing, windows are inefficient single pane windows from 1957, and many more. Most of the impairments related to the building are due to the age of the facility and the materials used at that time. These deficiencies were noted in a comprehensive study of GHS in spring of 2020 found in this report.

Why not build a new high school?

A new high school was considered by the committee, which ultimately decided that it was asking for too much from the taxpayers to move forward. The option being put forward for consideration was chosen because it gives the community the most bang for the buck. Reusing the part of the current high school saves tax money and provides the district with a secure, safe environment for learning. Being mindful of taxpayers was a primary concern for the board and Facility Planning Committee.

Did you consider phasing? Can’t you just remodel what you have now?

Yes, the Core Planning Group considered phasing the high school into multiyear projects over time. In fact, several members of the committee preferred that option going into this process prior to analyzing the facility needs. The goal was a non-referendum process to do a smaller scale project every 5 years. In reviewing the data, it was discussed that it would take approximately 30-35 years for an estimated $55.7 million dollars. Not included in that cost is the money it would take to maintain the systems over time.

Review the phasing map here.

Review the phasing money here.

Are the community members involved in the planning process paid or voluntary?

All community members involved have volunteered their time to participate in the process. No taxpayer funds were involved in planning except for the professional drawings from the architects. The volunteers are involved simply to find a better future for the Galena community.

How much money is the project going to cost the District? Is it being paid fully by a taxpayer referendum?

The total amount of the project is $28.4 million, and the District is asking for community support for $14.2 million with a bond referendum. The District projects using reserves and future state and federal revenue to lessen the burden of this project on taxpayers.

How much will it cost the taxpayer?

The District goal of the referendum is to be transparent about the impact of this taxpayer investment. Due to certain exemptions that lower taxable value of the home and future variables, it is impossible to predict exactly how much the tax impact will be. However, it is integral to this process to provide all the tools we can to get the most accurate estimate given the vast range of variables in every individual property tax bill. The most simple way to estimate is that it would be approximately $104 for the first $100,000 market value and $126 for every $100,000 market value thereafter. The district has put together a full webpage to address this; please see this link for more information.

Galena Elementary and Middle School was constructed without a property-tax increase and paid largely by tourism-driven 1% sales tax. Why can’t we use that option for the high school project?

In short, the District used all of the money possible from that source to fund the $19 million Galena Elementary and Middle School. The District used reserves from this fund and took a low-interest bond (loan) to be paid back over 20 years. This option would not be available for another 18 years.

With my individual taxes-if the referendum passes, will the construction bond portion continue to go up over time as assessments and home values go up?

On your property tax bill, you’ll see the tax rate for your District. That rate is the total of two tax rates that get poured into two separate buckets:

Annual operational levy
Any bonds

The annual levy covers day-to-day expenses, not unlike your own personal budget. Think of things like fuel, utilities, and people. Approximately 70% percent the annual District budget is for staff salaries/benefits and the majority of the rest is allocated to bussing, supplies, insurance, utilities, and general maintenance. The amount you pay on the individual levy changes as costs rise.

With bonds, voters decide whether to give a school district the pre-approval to take out a loan to do larger projects that are impossible within the operational levied funds. The principal amount of the loan is fixed at the time of voter approval at $14.2 million. When the bonds are sold, the final interest rate is locked in and fixed payments are then made over time, similar to a house mortgage. Since the bond is a fixed annual repayment amount every year, the annual amount of impact on the taxpayer goes down if the property values in the district boundaries rise. Increasing property growth and property values add to the pool of money to pay off bonds.

What if the price goes up after approval of the referendum? Could that possibly cost the taxpayers more money?

No. The referendum is asking for $14.2 million, and it is not legal for the District to go above that number. If the price of the project comes in above what is estimated when the project is bid, the Board will have to make decisions to reduce the project in some way, but no additional taxes can be levied to cover any overage.

Why not use existing tax revenues to address the proposed improvements?

In the current operating budget, there is limited funding to do major infrastructure improvements that fall outside the scope of standard yearly maintenance projects, general cleaning, and small-scale improvements.

What is the impact of additional assessed value
in the county on
annual property taxes?

The additional assessed value and new construction values in the District boundaries bring the overall tax rate down. For the December 2023 tax levy, the property tax rate dropped from $4.90 in 2022 to $4.75 per $100 equalized assessed value from the previous year. The change equates to an estimated property tax decrease of $82.50 next year for a $100,000 valued home without senior or homestead exemptions.

This shows the positive impact of new construction in our boundaries. It does not mean that your individual taxes are going down when the assessments are rising. Spreading the tax collection over more properties brings the individual homeowner taxes down or reduces what would otherwise be a larger increase for everyone.

Has the District realized any operational savings as part of the consolidation or looked for ways to be more efficient? What has the District done to save money?

Yes, simply consolidating the schools under one roof opens up more opportunities for efficient staffing in several areas. Over the past three years, the School Board has reorganized responsibilities to save over $200,000 on annual staffing equating to 5 full-time positions.

Are there any grants or other funding that could be used for the safety concerns?

There is one school safety grant opportunity from the Department of Justice called the School Violence Prevention Program Grant that we expect to be released in March with a May deadline. This grant allows districts up to $500,000 toward security measures such as key access and a secure entrance.

There are no other substantial programs to address this without local funding, and the aforementioned grant is not guaranteed. We have applied for a community safe room in the event of a tornado disaster through FEMA, but there are no other substantial funds for ADA, school security, infrastructure, or asbestos abatement. If other grants become available, we will absolutely apply if we believe this can mitigate some cost on the taxpayers.

When would we see the increase on our property taxes?

The approximate window is February 2025, so this would impact the property tax bills in summer of 2025.

At what interest rate
is the District anticipating borrowing?

The actual interest rate on the bonds will not be known until the bonds are sold, but please note that interest rates for school bonds (loans) are much more stable than residential borrowing, where rates are at approximately 8%. The anticipated rate for the school District is approximately 5%.

Would any of the funding from the 2024 referendum go toward operations?

No, this is not a referendum for utilities, salaries, supplies or anything outside the proposed project. Proceeds of the referendum would be used specifically for capital improvements.

With approval of this taxpayer investment, how much will this cost and for how long?

It is impossible to project the EXACT amount because it depends on (among other things) the increase/decrease of your property assessment and the interest rates at the time the bonds are sold. However, external financial bond experts project that this will raise taxes for 20 years at $266.50 per $228,200 Galena School District median home.

By law, school districts may not extend referendum bonds longer than 20 years.

Galena City Hall, Courthouse Renovation, and Galena Elementary & Middle School are community projects that are being planned or have been completed relatively recently. Don’t those raise property taxes, too?

No, the buildings were done without a separate property tax referendum by using reserves or borrowing without voter approval. They did not raise taxes for the construction.

Why is the District not pursuing all of its capital facility needs as part of the March referendum?

The Board of Education understands that if the District asks for too much, it will not be supported. The Board is focused on the high school’s absolute highest priority facility needs—no more; no less. While there are other facility needs, the GHS solution represents the minimum acceptable project to provide students a suitable facility for learning while being stewards of taxpayer dollars. The long-range plan for the District is to provide our community with an all-sports surface, vocational center, and auditorium; however, we have chosen to explore other funding options to accomplish this future goal.

What happens if other sources of revenue exceed projections in the future?

The Board of Education has forecast and factored in all likely revenue streams based on present conditions (such as current county sales taxes and property taxes based on current assessed values) and reasonable projections for those sources in the future. The addition of additional economic developments and/or increases in sales tax revenue cannot be accurately predicted or relied upon for budgeting purposes. Should there be significant increases in revenue in the future, the Board of Education will assess the conditions and make decisions consistent with protocol to determine what is best for the long term of the District and taxpayers.

How does this referendum compare to the three previous failed referendums?

Please see the table below on the results and taxpayer effect on each of the times a building bond was on the ballot. The District has accomplished a major project at GEMS and is allocating half from District funds.

What was the cost of the 2017 (most recent) referendum and what does it amount to today with inflation?

The 2017 referendum was valued at $15.8 million, which, adjusted for inflation, would today be $19.8 million. The District is asking for $14.2 million in March 2024.

A Young Scientist looking through a microscope

Which of the proposed facility improvements are likely to have the greatest academic impact?

Nearly every improvement will have a direct or indirect academic impact. The greatest academic impact would be as a result of the renovation of the classroom environments, including the regulation of classroom temperatures, acoustics, lighting, and the addition of flexible furniture to allow for additional innovative teaching practices. GHS does not have a secure entry into the main office and is at risk for a security incident.

What specifically would we get for the community with this taxpayer investment?

The option selected above is Option #6, which was selected objectively for quality, efficiency, and good stewardship of taxpayer investment.

In between the new building and GHS, we are proposing new construction while keeping the south side of Galena High School (Senior Hall classrooms, media center, locker rooms, overhang area, etc). This part of the existing GHS structure has no asbestos issues and is cost-efficient to renovate versus build new. Pictures of the new high school building are here.

The part of the high school building that costs more to fix than replace would be deconstructed, and more parking and green space would be part of the campus.

What could the interior floor plan look like?

The main level would be on the same level as the upper parking lot. We plan to utilize the slope down to the football field/track area to have a lower level at ground level.

Main Floor Plan

Lower Level Floor Plan

*Please note the floor plans are a combination of the new and existing construction of GHS.

Why connect the buildings?

The District will gain operational efficiency in energy consumption, staffing, and multi-use spaces. One building is easier to clean, staff, and maintain over time.

What is the exact square footage of renovation and addition?

Renovations–21,893 sq. ft.

Additions–66,144 sq. ft.

Overall Proposed GHS=88,037 sq. ft.

What is happening with Galena Primary School?

Every square foot of that school is currently being used. In addition to rental space to the Jo Daviess County Government and Midwest Medical Center, we have also allocated space to the new Galena wrestling team, the in-district Pirate Food Pantry, a countywide Family Ties for birth-3 intervention, a work space for our Advanced Home Maintenance high school course, storage for the Galena Area Chamber of Commerce, and general District storage.

In the future, there are a number of options for use, including a vocational center and dual credit academy. This will be used educationally for the District and have a variety of uses; there are no plans to deconstruct this building as it has long-term educational value to accomplish the District’s mission.

What is the information on the FEMA grant?

The School District is partnering with the City of Galena to apply for a FEMA BRIC (Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities) grant for an emergency storm shelter that would also double as a new gymnasium. We will be applying for approximately $5.8 million to build this at the high school, and it could be a major help to the district for general use and the community for emergency use. This does not affect the referendum amount, as the cost to do upgrades is a substantial amount to turn a gym into a safe community tornado shelter in case of emergencies. Also, we will not know of a successful award until spring of 2025.

More information on the BRIC FEMA grant is here, but it is essentially hazard mitigation money available through federal funding:

Also, we will not know of a successful award until spring of 2025.

More information on the BRIC FEMA grant is here, but it is essentially hazard mitigation money available through federal funding.

The proposal calls for a 300 student high school when completed. What have been the enrollment trends for the District?

Since 2008, the enrollment numbers of students at Galena High School has been a range of 229 to 251 students. Below are the previous 5 years and projected enrollment at GHS for the next 5 years. The projected enrollment is calculated by rolling over students currently enrolled and does not account for transfer students.

Previous 5 years:

2023-24: 239

2022-23: 242

2021-22: 233

2020-21: 230

2019-20: 235

Next (Projected) 5 years:

2024-25: 256

2025-26: 264

2026-27: 277

2027-28: 268

2028-29: 254

What input will staff have on the building design?

If the referendum is successful, the design team will sit down with each staff member multiple times over the course of a few months during the beginning of the design process to gather input on specifics with their space and experience. The current concept will be continuously tweaked using their expertise with an eye on maintaining the cost of the proposal. The District did the same procedure for the GEMS project and staff input drove the configuration of the grade level and needs for each classroom.

If the referendum is successful, how disruptive will the construction project be to students and staff?

As we experienced with the GEMS project, having construction during the school year creates needed adjustments to class locations, creates noise, and difficulties with movement of students both inside and outside of school. However, the plan is to build the addition between GEMS and GHS first while keeping the existing GHS functional. When the new classrooms are finished, all students and staff will be moved into new classrooms before work is done on the existing high school. This plan is to minimize distractions and enhance safety while the renovations are being completed. Completing the project this way will also eliminate the need for temporary mobile classrooms that are costly and unsafe.

How can District residents learn more about the referendum and provide additional thoughts and recommendations?

There is a comment form at the bottom of the referendum website. You are also welcome to contact:

Tim Vincent, Superintendent

(815) 777-3086

tvincent@gusd120.org.

If there are questions or you would like to request a meeting, he will be available.