District 428 officials, employees and supporters were dealt another blow as the $39.8 million proposed referendum failed by a 64-35 percentage, leaving Superintendent Brian Ali to question where the district will go from here.

“I submit to you that there are going to be some rough days ahead,” Ali said. “We all are going to pull closer together given the insurmountable odds working against us. The important job ahead is to educate children with the limited resources available.”

With the referendum failing for the third time in the past three elections, School Board President Don Robinson was dismayed over the fact that the District 428 community has yet to witness the lack of proper education the children have endured over the past few years.

“You wouldn’t see a dirt road [in downtown DeKalb], you wouldn’t see a fire department without proper equipment,” Robinson said. “This community is unwilling to step up and spend the money to provide resources for these children.”

Throughout the referendum’s campaign, a focal point the district threw out at the “no” votes was the financial investment a referendum could provide the DeKalb community in terms of new businesses, better job opportunities, increased property value and lower taxes.

“If we can’t invest in the children, who can we invest in?” Ali said. “If we don’t invest in schools, it’s likely we won’t be able to invest in other aspects in the community.”

DeKalb High School Principal Larry Stinson said a few options were possible in order to alleviate their already congested hallways and overflowing student enrollment.

“One is to take a look at scheduling and have some kids come early and some stay late,” Stinson said. “We could go to an open campus atmosphere, which I personally don’t like.”

Stinson added the possibility of instituting split scheduling within the next few years if student enrollment increases and the school’s capacity remains stagnant.

“Our work ethic remains the same,” Stinson said. “We’ll deliver quality education but we may have a few more kids in classrooms and more crowding in the hallways.”

Lincoln Elementary Principal Tom Burski worried with a failed referendum that he’d have to look into more portables as classrooms and possibly send some existing students to other schools. He said Lincoln currently has far exceeded its capacity limit and examining options to maintain a workable student enrollment figure may entail unfavorable alternatives.

Amy Kise, education specialist at NIU and mother of a fourth grade student, displayed her frustration regarding the failed referendum, because her son may not receive the best education he deserves in the years to follow.

“Its very frustrating when you want something so much for your children and you see so much need within the schools for it not to be supported by the community,” Kise said.

Once most precinct numbers had been tallied and presented to the school board, Ali spoke on the district’s behalf, encouraging his staff and all students within the district to accept the consequences and move forward.

“Life goes on,” Ali said. “We have to take the hand dealt to us. This was not the time, nor was it the season.”

Although the school district must wait until the November 2004 election to consider posing a referendum question to voters, Ali emphasized the need not to remain negative but to continue efforts in supporting the children of the community.

“Let this not be a kick but a shot in the arm,” Ali said. “We have the responsibility to work on the behalf of all students to do what’s best for them. It doesn’t die here.”