Group makes pitch for new school in Harvard

HARVARD – A group running a referendum campaign – backing the proposed construction of a $20 million school – is trying to explain what impact the new school will have on property taxes. Calling themselves "Citizens Caring For Kids," the group asks that the owner of a $200,000 home in Harvard School District 50 consider paying $92.50 more next year in real estate taxes so that a new school can be built. The referendum question will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot. Bonds would be issued to pay for school construction, officials said. The bonds would be paid back with interest with a 15-cent increase for every $100 of equalized assessed valuation in the property-tax rate. The owner of a $200,000 home now pays about $2,637 a year to the school district, said Donna Joyce, business manager for District 50. According to a news release from the group, a new school would house students in kindergarten through third grade. Jefferson School would house fourth- and fifth-graders. Central School could become the district's administration offices, allowing the now-occupied offices in the high school to be converted into classroom space. If it passes, the Nov. 4 referendum would be the first of seven referendum attempts to be approved in District 50 since the 1990s. The most recent attempt, a proposed 55-cent tax rate increase in the spring of 2005, failed by nearly 500 votes. Citizens Caring For Kids understands the urgent need to address the space issues within the Harvard school district, Julie Lehmann, chairwoman of the group, said in a news release.  The group will conduct a question-and-answer session from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 8 at the Harvard Diggins Library. Additional information and a schedule of events are available at the Web site www.ccfk.org. Group cites reason why a new school is needed in Harvard:   • Kindergarten enrollment increased by 25 percent in the 2007-08 school year. • In July 2008, three mobile classrooms were removed after 38 years because of life-safety issues. The removal reduces Washington School to only seven classrooms for all early childhood education, pre-kindergarten and kindergarten. • Cafeterias and gyms in every building are too small. • The last time a new school was built in Harvard was 1962. – Reporter Jenn Wiant contributed to this report.