Kishwaukee College received a huge shot in the arm Tuesday when DeKalb County residents voted to pass a referendum authorizing the sale of nearly $10 million in bonds to pay for overdue construction.

Referendum passage was essential for the construction of new wing additions to replace deteriorating prefabricated classroom housing located north of the main campus.

The 102,050-square-foot additions will become permanent home for agriculture, adult education, computer, electronic and manufacturing technology centers.

Supporters mustered just over 12,000 votes, or nearly 60 percent, while referendum opposition managed about 8,500 votes.

The bonds will be repayed in 10 years with a real estate tax hike.

The owners of a $75,000 home will pay an additional $55 the first year with a steady annual decline until the last year, when the rate will drop to about $42.

“We must have gotten a lot of support from NIU,” said Norman Jenkins, Kishwaukee college president. Jenkins was quick to point out the considerable margin with which the bill passed.

“When we see 60 percent in favor of the proposal amidst the atmosphere of heavy tax cutbacks, we think it shows a very high regard for Kishwaukee by the community,” said Larry Apperson, dean of Student Services.

Apperson said he believes the additions are crucial in meeting growing educational needs that have arrived in the wake of westward movement in the industrial-technological corridor.

Without passage of the referendum, officials feared the resulting decline of programs would have prompted people to question if Kishwaukee was planning ahead.

Kishwaukee journalism instructor Agapita Smith was instrumental in guiding publicity and promotion to the campaign’s decisive end.

She also used her position as editor of the Kishwaukee Kaleidoscope to provide extensive coverage of the effort.

“We worked with both radio and news media and collected testimonials from civic leaders and alums who have been touched by Kishwaukee in some way,” Smith said.

Construction of the additions should begin next summer, allowing several months for construction bidding and the sale of bonds.