Movers, shakers back D-300 referendums

WEST DUNDEE - About 25 builders and real-estate agents met Thursday at Randall Oaks Golf Club to discuss a $153,000 campaign to get the two District 300 referendums to pass in March.

They were joined by village officials from Algonquin, West Dundee, and Hampshire. Superintendent Ken Arndt called it an unprecedented coalition.

"This is an inaugural event," Arndt said at a luncheon. "For more than five years, we've been trying to get the movers and shakers of our community together ... and really talk seriously about our future."

The builders said their industry could take a big hit if home buyers did not continue to perceive District 300 schools as strong.

If the referendums fail March 21, the school board has pledged split shifts at the high schools; fewer electives; and the districtwide elimination of sports, extracurricular groups, and more.

But the builders and real-estate agents said their funding of the marketing effort was as much about giving back as taking in.

Alan Scimeca of Lakeland Development, which has projects in Algonquin and other District 300 communities, spearheaded the outreach to area builders.

"When I called people to join in this, nobody ever said how it would affect their wallets," Scimeca said. "It was all about the effect on the kids. It's far less financial for us than critics might believe."

The developers represented many of those already booked to build 15,000 new homes in the Carpentersville-based district. The homes are projected to bring 7,200 additional students by 2011. Combined with limited state funding for education, the growth prompted the district to seek a pair of referendums for four new schools, several additions and renovations, and 408 more teachers.

The campaign money, administered by the Advance 300 citizens group, will pay for an office, mailings, T-shirts, yard signs, TV and radio ads, and possibly even billboards.

Charles Burnidge of the Elgin-based Burnidge & amp; Cassell Architects, would be designing the new schools that a successful $185 million bond issue would allow. Burnidge said his campaign donation was not a conflict of interest.

"If the developers who are benefiting from the schools, and myself, are not philanthropic, then that's wrong," he said. "We all benefit from providing the best quality public education we can."

Advance 300 launched a Web site this week, www.advance300yes.com, and already has spent thousands to research the district's 54,000 registered voters.

"It's tough enough to get one 'yes' in this climate. A double 'yes' takes a world-class effort," said Doug Sibery, Advance 300 co-founder.

Nancy Zettler, also with Advance 300, said her camp faced well-financed opposition.

"We really need everybody to step up to the plate with big money," she said, "so we can really drive our message home."

By ALLISON L. SMITH asmith@nwherald.com