Dixon Trustees May Accept Bid for New High School

Article Launched: 11/17/2005 06:13:39 AM

Dixon Trustees May Accept Bid for New High School
By David Henson/Staff Writer

Dixon school trustees are expected tonight to accept a $60.6 million bid to build a new high school ... and then discuss how they can pay for it.

There is enough money in the Dixon Unified School District's coffers - from a $29.2 million local bond, state funds and other sources - to start the project, but not enough to complete it.

Last week, district officials were disappointed somewhat when bids for a new high school project came in over budget. The lowest bid was $2 million more than the district's construction estimate and at least $8 million more than it had earmarked for the project.

The district will discuss borrowing some $10 million to $11 million in developer fees expected through the next 10 years in order to close the project's budget gap, a proposal that trustees have said is risky.

Board President Shana Levine said there is no hurry in deciding how to make up the budget discrepancy and that she wants to toss around a few more ideas before leveraging future developer fees.

"We have a year and a half to make a decision," Levine said, referring to the expected 2007 completion of the new school.

In addition, trustees will close out a land deal for the new high school which was started more than a year ago with the city of Dixon and Brookfield Homes, a Danville-based developer.

A three-year contract with the Dixon Teachers Association also will be up for consideration. If approved, teachers will receive a 2.25-percent raise, increases in special education stipends and new contract language regarding retirements and teacher evaluations.

The school board will meet at 7 p.m. at the district office at 180 S. First St.

David Henson can be reached at dixon@thereporter.com.