Somers school-bond ballots due Tuesday

More than 40 percent of registered voters in the Somers School District have returned their ballots to the district office. Those who still want to vote in the bond election have a few more days to do so.

All ballots are due at the district office by 8 p.m. Tuesday. Polls will not be open; voters must use mail-in ballots.

Voters who intend to mail their ballots should remember that Monday is a federal holiday and the post office will not be open. Ballots postmarked Tuesday but received later than Tuesday night will not count.

Residents also may hand-deliver their ballots to the district office.

The district mailed 3,518 ballots to its registered voters. To date, 41 percent have been returned.

Registered voters who have not received their ballots should contact District Clerk Diane Fetterhoff in the district office.

The district is requesting $7.125 million in bonds to construct a new building on the middle school campus. The new building will become Somers Middle School for sixth- through eighth- grade students. The existing middle school building will house students in grades four and five.

The move would free up six classrooms at Lakeside Elementary School, which has experienced significant enrollment growth in recent years. Both schools are at capacity.

If approved, the 20-year bond issue would increase annual property taxes on a home with a taxable market value of $150,000 by about $164. Taxes on homes with a taxable market value of $250,000 would increase by about $273 each year.

The new facility would include 12 to 16 classrooms, depending on construction costs, and a competition-sized gymnasium. The district would purchase land adjacent to the proposed gym site for access and parking.

Some bond money would be used to renovate the existing middle school gym, which is carpeted and not competition-sized, into a cafeteria and multipurpose room. The existing cafeteria would be renovated to house shop classes.

The district likely would hire a construction manager to help select an architect and oversee the project. Other school districts that have hired construction managers for similar projects have saved money.

If the bond passes, the new facility will be finished by fall 2010.

For more information, contact Superintendent Teri Wing at 857-3661 or visit www.somersdist29.org.

Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com