MONROE — After tabling further discussion on a potential November referendum in April, the School District of Monroe Board of Education discussed a new timeline for a potential spring 2021 referendum at the Nov. 23 regular board meeting.

While nothing is yet set in stone, the board’s discussion of the potential referendum focused on Northside Elementary School, with updates and improvements similar to those done to Parkside Elementary School in 2019. 

A walk-through was done Nov. 17 with representatives from CG Schmidt, Plunkett Raysich Architects and North American Mechanical, Inc to review the mechanicals, specifically the HVAC system, in the building. NAMI will evaluate the systems to determine whether or new system would be more cost effective than upgrading the existing type of system. 

Part of the concern surrounding the HVAC system is that the original part of the building’s classroom doors have grills to allow for air flow between the rooms and hallways. The grill set-up on doors no longer meets code, meaning that the doors may need to be changed or have the grills replaced with panels.

Additionally, parts of the building have condensation issues during humid summer days.

The previous decision to table the referendum came following the explosion of COVID-19 throughout the country and state. With uncertainty throughout the community, especially in terms of finance, the board opted to wait on a referendum campaign, acknowledging that members of the community may be hesitant to vote for such changes when the future was still uncertain.

As the community works to find a “new normal,” the board is hoping to have plans for a new referendum set by February, as early mail-in voting will cut the time frame to get the word out down.