Last April’s failed referendum would have made possible additions and renovations needed to combat DeKalb High School’s continuing growth.

But for the third consecutive time, the referendum failed, leaving the high school with even more of a challenge: to provide its students with the best education possible despite overcrowded conditions.

Principal Larry Stinson remained optimistic, citing the dedicated efforts of both staff and students in working with cramped classrooms, stuffed hallways and little additional funding.

“So far this year, we haven’t had any serious problems, and the students are anxious to get back and back in school,” Stinson said. “Teachers are also doing a good job accommodating to the students, and education is taking place.”

Stinson said enrollment for the 2003-2004 year has risen by 50 to 60 students, numbers he classifies as both “moderate” and “not bad.”

If growth continues at this pace for the next five years without any significant additions, Stinson said he’s aware the problems they currently have would increase a great deal.

“We could potentially [within five years] have 1,900 or 2,000 students,” Stinson said, “and we do not have room as it stands right now for that number.”

Options for garnering additional funding abound but are difficult to obtain. State funding has seemingly been an option left on the back burner, considering Illinois’ state budget situation. Looking into the Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) district, monies compiled from DeKalb’s TIF district distributed by the city, is an option for some areas of the school district. The high school, however, does not fall within DeKalb’s TIF district.

The high school could consider the possibility of generating dollars from impact fees, something a few aldermen said would be a viable option for funding. They would create money from housing and new developments that is evenly dispersed throughout the district.

Some difficulties arise when looking at impact fees. The primary challenge would be finding a compromise to ensure additional funding for schools while raising the price of a home where new students potentially live.

In any instance, Stinson is enthusiastic that with future planning, they should weather the storm.

Stinson also is promoting the No Child Left Behind program, so everyone in DeKalb receives a fair and honest education. He said the high school also has larger plans in its early stages to deal with a yearly influx of students.

“We are, right now, on the cusp of making decisions on scheduling changes, maybe looking at a split schedule, perhaps an early start, late start split,” he said. “We feel like we’re going to be crowded for the next couple years, but if we can get something passed, we’ll be OK until then.”

Stinson stressed that parents understand growth, and overcrowding is normal in most high schools around Chicagoland. He used Kaneland and Genoa as examples, stating they’ve seen an additional 100 students per year. That number, he said, is extremely high for two high schools that are within a smaller community than DeKalb.

When in doubt, Stinson encouraged parents to look back at their days of schooling.

“We all look back at educational careers when at times school buildings are crowded,” he said. “But we all did receive a good education. And at one point, this will hinge on a child’s expectations and parents’ expectations that they want a good education – and they will get one here in DeKalb.”