WINCHESTER VOTERS TO DECIDE NEW GRADE SCHOOL GYM REFERENDUM

WINCHESTER, Ill. — Winchester school officials are continuing to make the case for a proposed new grade school gym ahead of the Nov. 3 election, when voters will decide whether to approve a bond issue to help fund the project.

The proposal would allow the district to issue up to $8.5 million in bonds for a new gym at Winchester Grade School. Superintendent Jeff Abell has been presenting details to the public as the district seeks to explain the project's scope and financial impact before ballots are cast.

The proposal follows the loss of the district's previous grade school gym, which was closed after structural concerns were discovered and later demolished. District building updates earlier this year documented the demolition and related work.

The previous gym measured about 8,000 square feet and seated roughly 700 people. The proposed replacement would have about 9,850 square feet of gym space and seating for approximately 890.

Abell says the proposed facility is intended to serve the district's needs without unnecessary extras. If voters reject the referendum, officials have said the project would likely be scaled back to approximately $4.5 million.

According to estimates presented by district officials, approval would increase annual property taxes by about $111 for a home valued at $100,000. They say a smaller replacement could still require a tax increase, estimated at $36 to $77 annually for a similarly valued home.

The Nov. 3 referendum will determine whether the district can pursue the larger gym proposal or must consider a reduced alternative.