Voters back school referendums in Duneland, 73%to 26%, and River Forest schools, 56% to 43%

River Forest

River Forest voters appeared to approve a new operating referendum for their school budget -- 56% to 43% -- Tuesday night, according to the Lake County website. All figures are unofficial.

“The results of this keep our kids going forward,” Assistant Superintendent Kevin Trezak said. “There were some things that got a little heated. In the end, it’s a win for kids.”

River Forest is asking taxpayers to help keep its bus routes as Lake County’s property tax fiscal cliff looms. The current levy would increase from 42 cents to up to $1.19 per $100 assessed valuation.

Aside from buses, it will also pay for costs on past and future building repairs, NIPSCO bills and property insurance, officials said.

More than a dozen people stood outside the New Chicago fire station -- with public officials, teachers and students holding “Yes” signs supporting River Forest’s proposed tax hike.

Senior Andrew Piesyk, 18, voted for it.

He arrived there at 6 a.m. and planned to stay until polls closed. A three-sport athlete -- football, wrestling, track -- he has attended River Forest schools since kindergarten, he said.

“The school is the community,” Piesyk said.

New Chicago resident Meredith Allen, 48, stood near the corner with three “No” signs. She said the town needed to fix roads before it raised more money for schools.

“I don’t want my property taxes going up,” she said. “I just moved here.”

Hanover

In unofficial results, Hanover voters appeared to have defeated a $44 million capital referendum -- 51% to 48% — according to Lake County’s website.

“Obviously, everybody here is very disappointed,” Superintendent Mary Tracy-MacAulay said. “It’s a loss for kids.”

“The plan is we’re coming back,” she said. “We have to wait two years, but we will be back. It’s absolutely necessary.”

She thanked volunteers who supported the referendum, “who were “tremendous people with a great heart for kids.”

Hanover asked for a construction tax vote to pay for a new intermediate school as Cedar Lake’s population booms, with an influx coming from Illinois — levying 56 cents per $100 assessed valuation over 20 years.

The proposed school would have reorganized the district -- putting 3rd to 5th grade there -- just south of its middle school, 10631 W 141st Ave.

The vote also would have paid for a new roof at Lincoln Elementary and addition at the middle school and high school.

Outside the American Legion on Tuesday, hairstylist Connie Martisek, 35, a mother of two, said she supported Hanover’s referendum because she was concerned about overcrowding.

“I don’t want it to be like Lake Central -- kids housed in trailers,” she said. Without a new school “we’re not going to have anywhere to put them.”

Businessman Vince Romans said Hanover’s plan was not detailed enough to justify its full cost. It had the option to come back later with another school tax pitch to the community, he said.

“You’re putting a building it, but now you’ve got to house it,” he said. “Who is going to pay for the teachers?”

“To me, it just wasn’t enough to justify spending $44 million,” Romans said.

Hanover passed a seven-year budget referendum in 2015.

Duneland

Chesterton voters opted to renew Duneland’s $40 million-plus school operating referendum -- 73% to 26%, with all precincts reporting and 100 percent of the vote tallied.

“Obviously, we are thankful that our community got out there and fought for our schools and our students,” Superintendent Judy Malasto said.

The vote meant “we continue the great programs for our kids,” she said. “Our community came out and said they support that. That’s a great feeling.”

Duneland asked voters to renew its 2012 referendum — levying 22 cents per $100 assessed valuation for the school budget for seven years.

Madeline Moss and Caden Mockler, both 18-year-old seniors at Chesterton High School and first-time voters, came to Jackson Elementary School to cast ballots on the Duneland school referendum.

Even after he graduates, Mockler said, he’s going to know a lot of students still at the school, and teachers as well.

“It’s just to continue supporting the school system,” Moss said. “They’ve given a lot to us and we want to give back to them.”

At Chesterton High School, resident Stacey Walsh, a mother of four, said she voted against it. Three children were now in their 30s. Her youngest was 11.

“I don’t know how much of it is going to the kids,” she said. “I know my neighbor, who is a senior citizen, it’s a real concern for her.”

Reporter Amy Lavalley contributed.