SYCAMORE | The Sycamore Board of Education discussed the need for a new elementary school and new renovations to schools Tuesday.

The board voted unanimously to support the referendum, which is not to exceed $30 million for improvements to current elementary schools and for a new elementary school.

“We’re using storage spaces to educate kids, so clearly there is a need for a new elementary school,” said board member Jim Dombek. “The icing on the cake for me is that a $30 million referendum will not cause a tax increase.”

The process for a referendum began in the spring of 2005. Four meetings were held with the architects of the new school and the building improvements, the school administration and the teaching staff. Three other meetings were held with the board of education and the community. About 50 or 60 people from the community were at each meeting, said Luke Glowiak, Sycamore School District business manager and treasurer.

A concern was expressed regarding recent growth in Sycamore at the elementary and middle school levels, so the board looked into building a new school.

“We’ve had community involvement right from the get-go,” said board member Dannie Stanbery.

Architects James G. Woods and August F. Battaglia, executive vice presidents of FGM Architects Engineers, presented to the board current ideas of what the new elementary school and renovations to current schools would look like.

The Board of Education did not approve any of the buildings because discussions between the architects and elementary schools still need to take place.

“None of these are finished ideas,” Woods said.

The new elementary school, as proposed, could educate about 450 children and would be located next to Plank Road. Current improvement ideas to other elementary schools include new classrooms, new administration sections and improvements to multipurpose and student support areas.

“These things reflect what we thought should be done to these buildings to bring them up to speed,” said Wayne Riesen, Sycamore School District superintendent.

A committee of board members, teaching staff and community members was also approved Tuesday to study the need for a new middle school, and is scheduled to report back to the board of education in 2008.