BY JILL TATGE-ROZELL
jrozell@kenoshanews.com

TREVOR — Voters in the Trevor-Wilmot Consolidated School District will be asked to approve an $11.4 million addition to Trevor School on Nov. 3, to house all district students in one building.

Administrator George Steffen answered the following questions regarding the referendum, the project and its financing:

Q: Where do people go to vote?

A: Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Wilmot Fire Station, 30400 Wilmot Road (Highway C).

Q: What is included in the project?

A: It would add 10 primary classrooms, two special education classrooms, a new gymnasium, an art room, a music room, a cafeteria, a new library and two computer labs to Trevor School. The project also provides a new office area on the southwest side of the building, enabling the existing offices to be remodeled into classrooms.

Q: Why is this building project needed?

A: There are several reasons. For one, the Kenosha County Board of Adjustments advised the district the temporary variance for the four modular classrooms on the Wilmot site is expiring and need to be removed.

Also, there is a lack of parking at both sites; the Wilmot building is expensive to maintain; classrooms and bathrooms at Wilmot Primary Center are inadequate.

Q: Why now, with the economy the way it is?

A: Qualified School Construction Bonds are available for one more year through the federal stimulus package that provide low- or no-interest financing. Also, contractors need work, which makes prices competitive.

Q: How will it affect taxpayers?

A: It will affect taxes in 2010 and will take 20 years to pay off. The district’s existing bonds will be paid off in 2014, which will ease the tax burden. If the district is successful in obtaining Qualified School Construction Bonds, the estimated maximum tax increase for the owner of a home valued at $100,000 would be $113.

Q: What if the district fails to qualify for the stimulus bonds?

A: With traditional bond financing, the estimated increase for the owner of a home valued at $100,000 would be $158.

Q: What will happen to the Wilmot Primary Center building and the modular classrooms?

A: Wilmot Primary Center will not be abandoned. It will be sold or leased. The modular classrooms will be sold.

Q: If the referendum passes, when would construction start and when would the transition to one building occur?

A: Construction would start in spring 2010. The new addition would be ready for occupancy in fall 2011.

Q: How will parking at Trevor School be improved?

A: Parking at Trevor will be greatly expanded under the plan. The main parent lot will be located on the west side of the building and the school, and district offices will be relocated to the west side as well.

Q: This is the first phase of a two-phase plan. What is included in the second phase?

A: Phase II calls for a second floor to be built over the first-floor classrooms. This addition would be built when the district enrollment requires them.

Q: If someone has other questions, whom should they contact?

A: For more information, call George Steffen at 262-862-2356. Also, a referendum informational meeting begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, at Wilmot Primary Center, 10720 Fox River Road.