On Tuesday, Mar. 20, a referendum was passed giving District 99 permission to issue bonds worth $136,600,000 in order to make changes and improvements to DGS and DGN, including a learning commons, school-wide air conditioning and more secure entrances in both schools.

The ballot was a simple “yes or no” vote. 62.04% were in favor of the proposal, 37.96% dissenting, with all 134 precincts reporting. Eight rejected the proposal, but ultimately, 13,599 voters who chose to respond voted for.

“All of us at District 99 would like to thank the community for its support,” Superintendent Dr. Hank Thiele said in a statement on Wednesday.

Despite the passion that was inspired by the proposal within the community, there were seven districts in which the referendum received no votes either way.