The Evanston/Skokie School District 65 board of education has released architectural renderings of what a new Fifth Ward school would look like if voters approve the $48.2 million in a March 20 referendum.

“We believe that when people see what’s possible, it will help them make a more informed decision when they go to the polls,” said District 65 spokeswoman Patricia Markham. “We’re hoping by having the renderings out there it creates a sense of excitement about the possibilities.”

The referendum asks voters: “Shall the Board of Education of Evanston/Skokie Community Consolidated School District Number 65, Cook County, Illinois, build and equip a school building, build and equip additions to existing school buildings, and improve the sites of and alter, repair and equip existing school buildings and issue bonds of said School District to the amount of $48,200,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?”

Construction of a fifth ward K-to-5 school has been a hot button issue in Evanston for years. Some residents in the area complain that their children have to be bused to other schools in the city due to the closure of Foster School more than 30 years ago as part of the desegregation of Evanston’s schools.

The school district said it would cost approximately $21 million to build a new 18 classroom fifth ward school for 415 students, and between $470,000 and $1.5 million a year to staff and operate it.

The remainder of the money would be used for the expansion and remodeling of eight new classrooms at Nicolas School, remodeling of eight new classrooms at Haven school, new science stem classrooms at all of the middle schools and King Lab, locker rooms at Rhodes Magnet school.

“We’re both hopeful and optimistic,” said Markham. “It’s a really good investment in the future of the district.”

“We’ve been looking at when our buildings were built,” she added. “One of the really exciting things about the architect renderings is that they give an idea of how things have changed. The youngest building besides the Joseph Hill Education Center is Kingsley School — and it’s close to 50 years old. Many of our buildings are close to 100 years old and are celebrating their centennial this year.”

Markham said the district has posted a “frequently asked questions” section on the referendum on its website at: http://www.district65.net/referendum/faq

Selling the referendum may be tough in a down economy, but Markham said the school district has the support of many people in the city including a residents group called, Citizens for a Better Evanston, formed specifically to encourage residents to vote “yes” on the referendum question.

“They put out fliers and a brochure,” Markham said. “It’s a growing group of residents, parents and community leaders who have come together and are kind of campaigning for the support of the referendum.”

A representative of the group could not be reached for a comment, but its Facebook page says: “We support the Better School Initiative. Build Grow Restore Evanston schools! Evanston is a growing community. As Evanston grows, so must our school system. Without compromising our dedication to 21st Century learning, it’s time to build.”

District 65 is asking voters to approve a $48 million building project (Courtesy District 65)