D-26 Discuss Merger Study Cost

School District 26 may potentially invest $5,000 to conduct a feasibility study with Fox River Grove School District 3.

At the Feb. 27 regular board meeting, District 26 Board of Education for completing a consolidation feasibility study with the smaller Fox River Grove school district in an effort to offset costs and share administrative task.

Superintendent Brian Coleman said the district sent out 10 inquiries and received three responses.

However, two of the consulting firms are out of state and unable to do the study and one firm is able to do perform the study but not in time to meet the state deadline of June 30, which is required to receive a guaranteed reimbursement, Coleman said.

The state has three feasibility studies occurring as of now, with an average cost of $11,500. The Illinois State Board of Education provides up to $8,000 in funding for feasibility studies for school districts considering consolidation.

Coleman said it’s a small window to complete the study by summer and the state has not allocated reimbursement funds for feasibility studies for next year.

The administration will evaluate consultant quotes and qualfications as they come in and will present updates at the March 12 Committee of the Whole meeting.