Wandtv.com, NewsCenter17, StormCenter17, Central Illinois News-$230 million plan approved by Springfield School District
Member Center:
A plan with a price tag of more than $230 million is approved to rebuild three high schools in Springfield, but where to get the money was still the main question at Monday night's school board meeting.
Option B recommends converting the current Springfield High School to a small magnet high school and district administrative offices. It also includes replacing most of Southeast High School. There are plans for building a new Springfield high school near Koke Mill and Hedley Roads and tearing down and replacing Lanphier High School.
“We start talking about how to move forward, we start talking about, you know, how much is it going to cost to hire the architects to get the actual numbers because when we go to the public and ask for a bond referendum especially if it ends up being a property tax referendum we need to know how much we are going to ask for and how we are going to pay for it,” said Springfield School District Chairman Art Moore.
The board has two options on the table, one asking voters for an increase in property taxes to pay for high school renovation and construction or a proposed countywide school sales tax.
