he ad-hoc committee continued its efforts to have the community approve its $39.8 million referendum plan for DeKalb School District 428.

The ninth community meeting was held on Thursday at Cortland Elementary school, 4418 Maple St. in Cortland, where the new plan was presented.

The referendum plan calls for $12.2 million to go for the elementary schools, $3.9 million for the middle schools and $23.6 million for DeKalb High School.

If the plan is approved, a person who is the owner of a $100,000 home will have about an $86.66 annual increase. The average home value in DeKalb, which is $157,275, will have a $131.96 annual increase.

The 36-member committee met weekly and was unanimous in the new plan.

If implemented, the plan would be in effect for 10 years and make an approximate rate of a 2 percent growth.

Ad-hoc member Roger Steimel said he voted “no” in the March referendum elections, but supports this one.

“It’s a better plan and it’s doing things for all the schools,” Steimel said.

Jerry Dunham, director of building and grounds for the districts, and John Cinelli, principal of Burnidge Cassell Associates, went through the maps of each of the schools and showed how it would look if the plan was put through.

“We walked through all the schools in the district,” Dunham said.

Originally when walking through, they thought the referendum should cost a total of $62 to $68 million. But, when the ad-hoc committee said that wouldn’t pass, they lowered the total to $40 million.

“We did not want to compromise on quality,” Cinelli said.

The money from the referendum, if passed, only will be used on the actual building.

“We will not use it for additional staff,” said Meriann Besonen, assistant superintendent of business and finance.

If the referendum does not pass, the next shot for the referendum will be in April 2004, Superintendent Brian Ali said.

“The referendum to pass on this try is very critical and more urgent than most people realize,” Ali said.

Steimel said the reason the referendum didn’t pass in March was because voters hoped for financial help from the state and federal level.

But Ali said that Illinois ranks 48th in the nation for giving money to schools in the elementary level and also is in the top 10 wealthiest states.

Charles Burnidge, president of Burnidge Cassell Associates, said the important thing was the education of the children.

“We knew we had to do this for our kids,” said ad-hoc member Holly Wallace.

Citizens will be able to vote on the referendum in the Nov. 5 election.