Rockford — Air conditioning at all the district’s school buildings, new playground equipment, performing arts center renovations, enhanced security and the construction of a new indoor athletic complex are some of the high-priority items outlined in a $230 million bond proposal set to go before Rockford voters in November.
The proposal, approved by the board of education in August, would maintain the district’s current millage rate of 7 mills, resulting in a zero-mill increase for taxpayers over the current levy, Rockford Superintendent Steve Matthews said.
Matthews said he anticipates it would be a three-series bond, with the first round of roughly $40 million coming in 2026, the $110 million second round in 2029, and the $80 million final round in 2032.
‘It would generate some revenue for the district and that revenue would allow us to do some things from a construction and facilities perspective that would be good for the district.’
— Rockford Superintendent Steve Matthews
If approved, the bond would allow Rockford to “make some good improvements in the district, but also take care of the buildings and the facilities that we have,” Matthews said.
Why Now?
The district is in the process of paying off portions of its 2019 bond, and Matthews said the timing is right to ask voters to keep the current rate going rather than letting it drop.
“The way bonds work, there’s a moment in time when you pay off some bonds and you have to make a decision as to whether you try to keep the rate at the same level, or you let it go down,” Matthews said. “We’re at that inflection point right now, where, at the end of next year, we will have finished paying some bonds, and so the amount of money we need to collect doesn’t need to be as great.
“So, the bond rate could go down next year, but instead, if we go to our voters and ask them to keep the rate at the same level, it would generate some revenue for the district and that revenue would allow us to do some things from a construction and facilities perspective that would be good for the district.”
Matthews said the district opted to put the issue on the November ballot in order to make use of the summer 2026 construction season.
‘Building for the Future’
Informational material from the district breaks the bond down into two categories: “Building for the Future” and “Advancing Excellence.”
“Building for the Future” includes adding air conditioning to all the buildings that need it, installing electronic door locks in all classrooms district-wide, and building gym spaces for the four elementary buildings — Belmont, Cannonsburg, Valley View and Lakes — that currently only have a shared gym/cafeteria space.
It also includes upgrading playgrounds at all schools that are using outdated equipment.
The “Advancing Excellence” portion of the bond includes performing arts center renovations that would update the seats, stage, lighting and sound equipment as well as practice and storage rooms. That section of the district’s plan also includes construction of a new indoor turf facility that sports teams would be able to use for practice in inclement weather. Dubbed the Ram Center, the facility would also be available for community recreation use.
The Ram Center would also feature a brand-new headquarters for the student-run Beyond the Rock news network.
Other planned improvements include new classroom spaces, the replacement of aging buses, and updates to technology infrastructure.
Matthews said the added air conditioning, totaling around $40 million, is the costliest item, followed by the construction of the Ram Center at around $37 million, and performing arts renovations, which are expected to be in the $15 million to $18 million range.
If the bond is approved, the district would move quickly on installing air conditioning and upgrading playgrounds, aiming to start on both of those projects by summer 2026.
While the district’s proposal does not call for a millage-rate increase, Matthews noted that the amount homeowners pay in taxes will be commensurate with property values, which are on the rise in Rockford.
“The reality is, it’s a zero-mill increase, but as home values increase there will be a modest increase in the amount you pay,” Matthews told SNN. “Seven mills on $100,000 is more than 7 mills on $80,000.”
Matthews said the community has, historically, been supportive of Rockford’s bond projects. The current proposal is also generating positive responses.
“In general, the feedback has been positive from people in the community,” Matthews said.
He added that bond projects are the only option districts have for taking on major construction projects, as per-pupil funding mostly pays for staffing and supply needs.
“That doesn’t leave much money left over for infrastructure, buildings or programming,” Matthews said. “(Building) facilities that will enhance our programming has to be done through bond programs.”
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