TOWN HALL MEETING - Tuesday, OCT 30 at 7:00 PM, OPRFHS South Cafeteria
This meeting may be your only opportunity to ask questions and voice concerns. The Board is exploring options to bypass voters in funding its draft facilities master plan, with its total estimated cost of $218 Million (updated number from the previous partial price tag of $145 million for the first 3 sequences). More information HERE - scroll down to the bottom of the page for additional links with details about the proposal and its estimated costs.
THURSDAY, OCT 25, 7:30 PM - Regular monthly D200 School Board meeting in the 2nd floor Board Room at OPRF. The agenda is posted HERE - it includes additional links.
UPDATE: The full 5 sequence estimate at $218 Million is available HERE. Note that it provides guidance as to how the various components in each sequence are inter-dependent.
The D200 Committee of the Whole met Tuesday, October 16. Here is a LINK to the agenda and a LINK to important FINANCING OPTIONS details (12 pg. total)
OCT 16 - ADDRESSING FUNDING FOR PROJECTS with consultant Dr. Rob Grossi
The agenda for the Committee of the Whole meeting on TUESDAY included a presentation/discussion of possible FUNDING options for the IMAGINE proposal. This includes financing options that BYPASS THE VOTERS completely such as the issuance of LIFE SAFETY BONDS or DEBT CERTIFICATES (pg. 9, HERE). Neither of these is subject to the possibility of a "back-door" referendum which forces a vote by collection a sufficient number of petition signatures as happened with the November 2016 referendum. The meeting on 10/16 is for presentation and discussion only, no voting will take place. It is very important that the D200 BoE hears from its constituents on these issues.
THE PRESENTATION INCLUDED THESE QUESTIONS (see pages 3-5 HERE):
** How much current capital is the District willing to commit to the Master Plan? (such as from fund balance reserves)
** How much additional capital is the District willing to commit to address the Master Plan? (such as from future operating budgets, including debt certificates or the issuance of non-referendum bonds)
** Once this dollar amount is determined, what specific areas of the Master Facility Plan will be addressed with these resources?
Links and updates are also posted on our public Facebook group.
UPCOMING DATES
** The next regular D200 Board Meeting is Thursday, October 25 at 7:30 PM at the high school. A link to the agenda will be posted when available.
** D200 is hosting an IMAGINE Town Hall on Tuesday, October 30 at 7 PM.
How to Participate: ATTEND any meeting (link) and SPEAK during public comment - SIGN the Online Petition and SHARE the LINK - SEND an email to school board members (link) - WRITE a letter to the editor (WJ - OL) - SHARE this information with friends and neighbors
NOTE: Public comment is generally at the beginning of the School Board meetings.
Our SEPT 15 post includes a RECAP of the IMAGINE OPRF Long-term Facilities proposal. (LINK)
Pragmatic Solutions - OP-RF
9/15/18
A VERY Expensive Project - With Estimates for just 3/5 of the project
THANK YOU to all who attended the Oct. 3 Community Input Session
Next MEETING is the D200 TOWN HALL on Tuesday, October 30 (Link)
HOW to participate - Sign the ONLINE PETITION and share the Link - Attend any meeting (Link) and SPEAK during public comment - Send an E-mail to school board members (Link) - Learn about the FINANCING options (Link) - Write a Letter to the Editor (WJ - OL) - Share this info with friends and neighbors.
This post is a review of the proposal put forth by the IMAGINE OPRF team to the D200 BoE on September 11. First of all, the total project is split into FIVE sequences but cost estimates were provided for only THREE of these sequences. And these estimates total a WHOPPING $145 MILLION. And still leaves the last 2 sequences as a big unknown.
The board asked some questions of the Imagine team, but any questions of substance (such as whether costs be reduced) were deflected. Very disappointing that the board - and taxpayers - are not being offered any real alternatives at different price points! Furthermore, of the $145 million for sequences 1, 2 and 3, about $117 million (80%) is dedicated to the Field House, primarily for PE and Athletic uses. Only 20%, $28 million in Sequence 1, is not dedicated to the Field House. Sequence 1 adds a 2-story addition above the South Cafeteria which currently is just one story. Sequences 2 & 3 are upgrades and rebuilding of sections of the existing Field House. The final section of the Field House is left for Sequence 5 (which may well be the most costly sequence of all, who knows?)
See this LINK for a breakdown of the costs of sequences 1, 2 and 3. It provides some detail on various spending categories. See pg. 4 for a summary. This LINK provides narrative that describes specific improvements accomplished in each sequence and why they need to be done in this order.
See the chart below for a breakdown of these costs.
(Note: Link only available to those logged in to Facebook. See the file labeled "Concept Cost Estimate - CORRECTED - Seq 1-3... near the top of the list. It can be "previewed" by clicking the preview button to the right of the file name. Page 3 recaps costs for the first 3 sequences.)
Next MEETING is the D200 TOWN HALL on Tuesday, October 30 (Link)
HOW to participate - Sign the ONLINE PETITION and share the Link - Attend any meeting (Link) and SPEAK during public comment - Send an E-mail to school board members (Link) - Learn about the FINANCING options (Link) - Write a Letter to the Editor (WJ - OL) - Share this info with friends and neighbors.
This post is a review of the proposal put forth by the IMAGINE OPRF team to the D200 BoE on September 11. First of all, the total project is split into FIVE sequences but cost estimates were provided for only THREE of these sequences. And these estimates total a WHOPPING $145 MILLION. And still leaves the last 2 sequences as a big unknown.
The board asked some questions of the Imagine team, but any questions of substance (such as whether costs be reduced) were deflected. Very disappointing that the board - and taxpayers - are not being offered any real alternatives at different price points! Furthermore, of the $145 million for sequences 1, 2 and 3, about $117 million (80%) is dedicated to the Field House, primarily for PE and Athletic uses. Only 20%, $28 million in Sequence 1, is not dedicated to the Field House. Sequence 1 adds a 2-story addition above the South Cafeteria which currently is just one story. Sequences 2 & 3 are upgrades and rebuilding of sections of the existing Field House. The final section of the Field House is left for Sequence 5 (which may well be the most costly sequence of all, who knows?)
See this LINK for a breakdown of the costs of sequences 1, 2 and 3. It provides some detail on various spending categories. See pg. 4 for a summary. This LINK provides narrative that describes specific improvements accomplished in each sequence and why they need to be done in this order.
- Sequence 1 @ $28,507,600 (primarily for new construction above the South Cafeteria to provide a new library/media and student resource spaces, classrooms and other academic and student services needs)
- Sequence 2 @ $66,742,100 (primarily for the east part of the Field House - P.E. and Athletics / new construction for an oversized, 17 lane, 40 x 25 yard pool, locker rooms, offices, and some multi-use spaces. It includes $569,800 for Performing Arts - less than 1% of the total)
- Sequence 3 @ $49,629,100 (the west part of the Field House; includes the most significant Performing Arts allocation of all the priced sequences with $14,183,900 specifically designated for Performing Arts)
- ALL sequences include amounts designated "Community/Shared Spaces" which is not defined. It may include things such as storage, hallways, bathrooms, stairways and elevators)
- It concerns us that the costs for Sequence One are fairly detailed and related to specific components, whereas the costs for Sequences 2 & 3 are vague and generic. Please see pages 2 & 3 at this LINK
See the chart below for a breakdown of these costs.
(Note: Link only available to those logged in to Facebook. See the file labeled "Concept Cost Estimate - CORRECTED - Seq 1-3... near the top of the list. It can be "previewed" by clicking the preview button to the right of the file name. Page 3 recaps costs for the first 3 sequences.)
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| click on image for an enlarged view |
9/2/18
IMAGINE to Present its Facilities Concept on SEPT 11
Mark you calendar! Our first look at Imagine OPRF's presentation to the Board of Education, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 at 6:30 PM.
We hope to learn how Imagine proposes to phase the work including a timeline and very specific cost estimates broken down for each phase of the project rather than a global cost estimate. The last we heard from Imagine back in June, two concepts were presented - both involved tearing down the Field House and much of the south end of the building. At that time, no cost estimates were provided nor was there any "roadmap" of the route to accomplish work.
More information HERE: http://www.oprfhs.org/about/Imagine-OPRF-Work-Group.cfm
6/12/18
Let them know your concerns - Upcoming Meetings on 6/26 and 6/28
Next Up - TUESDAY, JUNE 26 at 7:00 PM in Room 293E
and THURSDAY, JUNE 28 at 7:30 PM in the Board Room at OPRFHS
On Tuesday, June 26 the OPRF Imagine Facilities team will present its findings and three concepts to the D200 School Board and initiate discussions with the Board about a potential long-term facilities master plan at a special board meeting. This is a public meeting, and all are welcome to attend.
On Thursday, June 28 at 7:30 PM a regular monthly meeting of the D200 School Board is scheduled. Public comments are taken at the beginning of meetings. Agendas (when available) will be posted HERE.
On Tuesday, 6/19 - D200 Committee of the Whole met and heard public comments from many Pragmatic Pool supporters urging a closer look at the high school's swimming requirements and a facilities solution less drastic than total demolition of the Field House.
This meeting comes one week before the Imagine OPRF team will discuss renovation proposals with the Board of Education. Although cost estimates are not yet included, all 3 proposals:
and THURSDAY, JUNE 28 at 7:30 PM in the Board Room at OPRFHS
On Tuesday, June 26 the OPRF Imagine Facilities team will present its findings and three concepts to the D200 School Board and initiate discussions with the Board about a potential long-term facilities master plan at a special board meeting. This is a public meeting, and all are welcome to attend.
On Thursday, June 28 at 7:30 PM a regular monthly meeting of the D200 School Board is scheduled. Public comments are taken at the beginning of meetings. Agendas (when available) will be posted HERE.
On Tuesday, 6/19 - D200 Committee of the Whole met and heard public comments from many Pragmatic Pool supporters urging a closer look at the high school's swimming requirements and a facilities solution less drastic than total demolition of the Field House.
This meeting comes one week before the Imagine OPRF team will discuss renovation proposals with the Board of Education. Although cost estimates are not yet included, all 3 proposals:
1. Necessitate full demolition of the Field House,
2. Include a 30-40 meter pool (larger than a standard 25-yd competition-sized high school pool)
3. Include a larger, 200-meter track to replace the existing track
Important to note: The IMAGINE plans have NOT taken into account any possible update of the 18-week PE swimming requirement at OPRFHS. This requirement is significantly lengthier than what other high schools in the Chicago area require. In addition, unlike other high schools, the current PE swimming requirement at OPRF does not provide an option to "test out" to students who already know how to swim.
It is important to understand that these two points create the argument for a larger pool. This significantly affects the price tag - AND our property taxes.
Please attend on June 19 - and consider making a public comment. Urge the D200 School Board to update its current PE swimming requirement and seek a more equitable pool solution.
In addition to the weak rationale for an overly large pool, the rationale for many of the other suggested facilities improvements do not seem to have been clearly articulated. The presentations at the community meetings on February 27 provided the best summary of the high school's needs and the issues to be resolved by the facilities updates - focused on these four main areas:
* Academics & Student Achievement (link)
* Fine & Applied Arts (link)
* Extracurriculars, Athletics & Physical Education (link)
* Whole Building (safety, security, the physical plant) (link)
More information is available at the "Frequently Asked Questions" file from Feb. 27.
Details on the concepts for the new facilities were provided in our June 3 post. Read it HERE.
2. Include a 30-40 meter pool (larger than a standard 25-yd competition-sized high school pool)
3. Include a larger, 200-meter track to replace the existing track
Important to note: The IMAGINE plans have NOT taken into account any possible update of the 18-week PE swimming requirement at OPRFHS. This requirement is significantly lengthier than what other high schools in the Chicago area require. In addition, unlike other high schools, the current PE swimming requirement at OPRF does not provide an option to "test out" to students who already know how to swim.
It is important to understand that these two points create the argument for a larger pool. This significantly affects the price tag - AND our property taxes.
Please attend on June 19 - and consider making a public comment. Urge the D200 School Board to update its current PE swimming requirement and seek a more equitable pool solution.
In addition to the weak rationale for an overly large pool, the rationale for many of the other suggested facilities improvements do not seem to have been clearly articulated. The presentations at the community meetings on February 27 provided the best summary of the high school's needs and the issues to be resolved by the facilities updates - focused on these four main areas:
* Academics & Student Achievement (link)
* Fine & Applied Arts (link)
* Extracurriculars, Athletics & Physical Education (link)
* Whole Building (safety, security, the physical plant) (link)
More information is available at the "Frequently Asked Questions" file from Feb. 27.
Details on the concepts for the new facilities were provided in our June 3 post. Read it HERE.
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