CENTER POINT-URBANA CSD
BOND VOTE
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2024
THE PROJECTS
On Tuesday, November 5, our voters will consider a bond referendum that, if approved, would allow CPU to leverage up to $20.61 million in general obligation funds for expansion and improvement projects. In addition to the proposed bond funds, the district will continue utilizing revenue from our voter-approved Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) and the statewide one-cent sales tax fund known as Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) to support ongoing maintenance and other facility upgrades.
The first phase of improvements would coincide with our ongoing maintenance plan and be funded using PPEL and SAVE revenue. This includes roof repairs and replacements at the primary and middle schools, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) updates to the pre-kindergarten rooms at the intermediate school, and HVAC improvements at both the middle school and high school.
Phase II would involve the use of general obligation bonds to fund several significant projects. This includes the construction of a new 600-seat auditorium at the high school, along with a new weight room and multipurpose space. Improvements are also planned for the athletic fields and concessions.
To enhance student safety, Phase II would also fund the addition of secure entrance sequences at the primary and middle schools. These "forced" entrances, similar to those already in place at the intermediate and high schools, would ensure that all visitors enter through a single, monitored entry point, creating a more controlled environment for access to the building.
The purpose of these secure entrances is to require anyone entering the school during the day to check in at the office, undergo a screening process, and confirm their authorization to be on campus before gaining access. Once the school day begins, the interior vestibule doors will automatically lock, leaving the front office as the only entry point for visitors. The proposed enhancements would also reconfigure the front administrative areas to provide better visibility of the parking lots and main approach, allowing staff to monitor who is approaching the building more effectively.
These recommendations were selected by the School Board after a multi-year review of our facilities and the consideration of multiple project options. This process included the creation of a Master Facilities Task Force and engagement with CPU staff and parents, community members, and representatives of the local business community.
The district also partnered with INVISION Architecture to provide facility assessments and project consultation.
Architect rendering of the secure entrance at CPU Primary School.
Architect rendering of the secure entrance at CPU Middle School.
Architect rendering of the auditorium lobby at CPU High School.
Architect rendering of the new auditorium at CPU High School.
Architect rendering of the new weight room at CPU High School.