District 88 has placed a bond referendum on the Nov. 3, 2026, ballot to address facility needs at Addison Trail and Willowbrook high schools.
The question requests permission to authorize the issuance of $118 million in referendum bonds, without a net tax rate increase. Facility improvements include safety and security upgrades and improvements to infrastructure, ADA accessibility and Career and Technical Education (CTE) spaces.
The bond referendum would fund the updates listed above without a net tax rate increase. This is possible because District 88 has existing referendum debt that will be paid off after levy year 2026, and the district has limited the proposal to the highest-priority needs.
For details, see the list of frequently asked questions below.
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District 88 has placed a $118 million bond referendum on the November 2026 ballot. The referendum is a question put to a public vote. This referendum, if approved, would fund facility improvements at Addison Trail and Willowbrook high schools.
Funds would address safety and security upgrades; infrastructure; ADA accessibility (Americans with Disabilities Act); and improvements to Career and Technical Education (CTE) spaces, athletic spaces and performing arts spaces.
The referendum, if approved, would authorize the issuance of $118 million in bonds over approximately 20 years.
No. The new bonds would replace expiring debt, leaving the applicable tax rate the same.
Yes. The district can issue $118 million of bonds without a tax rate increase. This is possible because the district will be paying off outstanding debt. The size of the tax rate that is expiring soon is the same size as the tax rate associated with the new referendum. One replaces the other, which is how the improvements can be done without a tax rate increase.
Willowbrook High School is 67 years old, and Addison Trail High School is 60 years old.
If approved, referendum bond proceeds would fund the following improvements:
To minimize disruption to teaching and learning, most of the repairs and renovations would take place during summer breaks. Some projects might extend beyond summer months, but they would be carefully phased to avoid impacting instruction.
Nineteen years ago, District voters approved a $104.7 million bond referendum to modernize and support improved learning environments at both high schools. Projects were completed on time and on budget and included technology upgrades, modernized science labs, enhanced art and music spaces, collaborative learning areas, student-centered common areas, and additional instructional spaces.
In 2025, the district completed a Long Range Master Facility Plan in collaboration with ARCON Associates and CS2 Design Group. In the spring of 2025, the district began a comprehensive assessment of building needs including feedback from students, teachers, staff, and the broader community to help identify current and future priorities at both schools. The assessment analyzed:
The District also completed a health, life, and safety facility assessment, a state-mandated review conducted every 10 years.
If approved, the referendum would authorize the district to issue up to $118 million in bonds to fund the proposed capital projects.
The $118 million represents the principal amount of bonds authorized and does not include interest or other financing costs associated with issuing and repaying the bonds. As with any bond financing, interest would be paid over the life of the bonds.
The actual interest cost cannot be determined until the bonds are issued, because it will depend on factors such as market interest rates at the time of issuance, the timing and size of each bond sale, and the repayment structure. The district anticipates issuing the bonds in multiple series as project funding is needed, rather than borrowing the entire $118 million at one time.
The bonds are expected to be repaid over approximately 20 years.
Yes. The district can issue $118 million of bonds without a tax rate increase. This is possible because the district will be paying off outstanding debt. The size of the tax rate that is expiring soon is the same size as the tax rate associated with the new referendum. One replaces the other, which is how the improvements can be done without a tax rate increase.
Delaying repairs might result in increased costs. Construction costs have more than doubled in the past 10 years. Over the past five years, construction costs have increased on average 7% annually.
District 88 invests approximately $1-2 million annually in ongoing maintenance.
School district bonds are sold through a regulated process to get the lowest cost for taxpayers. The district works with financial experts, receives a credit rating, and sells the bonds either through competitive bidding or a negotiated sale. Investors buy the bonds, and the district receives the funds for the referendum projects.
There is usually very little risk. If market conditions are not favorable, the district simply waits for a better time.
School district bonds are considered very safe investments, so long-term demand is almost always strong.
A wide range of investors typically purchase school district bonds, including:
Because school district bonds are considered very safe, they usually attract strong demand.
District 88 is composed of two high schools: Addison Trail High School in Addison and Willowbrook High School in Villa Park. Those schools serve students primarily from Addison, Lombard, Oakbrook Terrace and Villa Park.
District 88 also operates a Transition Program at the District Office located at 2 Friendship Plaza in Addison. This program helps students ages 18 to 21 who have a variety of abilities learn life skills, obtain job training in a community setting and transition to life after District 88.
The district has three associate elementary school districts - Addison School District 4, District 45 and Salt Creek School District 48 - as well as parochial schools.
District 88 consistently maintains a graduation rate above 90%, exceeding state averages.
Yes. In 2026-27, students earned more than 2,200 career certifications through 18 career pathway programs. For more information, go to https://d88careerpathways.my.canva.site/.
Students earned more than 6,400 college credits in 2025-26, providing families with a potential opportunity to save an estimated $2.6+ million in tuition through AP (Advanced Placement), dual credit and college partnerships. District 88 offers more than 30 AP courses and more than 50 dual-credit/college-credit courses.
In terms of reading and math proficiency, 72% of District 88 students met college and career indicators for math, and 62.9% of District 88 students met college and career indicators for English/Language Arts.
Addison Trail and Willowbrook high schools have earned placement on the prestigious U.S. News & World Report list of Best High Schools. District 88 schools also earn high ratings on www.greatschools.org, with Addison Trail receiving a 9/10, and Willowbrook receiving a 9/10.
District 88 also maintains an ‘Aa1’ bond rating from Moody’s, as well as the highest financial recognition from the Illinois State Board of Education
District 88 currently serves about 3,800 students across two campuses.
District 88 is committed to ongoing transparency and public input. Residents can:
All registered voters who reside within District 88 boundaries are eligible to vote on the bond referendum.
The bond referendum will appear on the Nov. 3, 2026, ballot.
If the referendum were approved, the district plans to provide regular updates, including funding and construction details, through its website, social media and other communication channels to ensure transparency and accountability.
The Board will address projects as part of the annual budget allocation for facilities maintenance. In recent years, that allocation has been approximately $1.5M-$2M; this allocation would be reviewed and potentially adjusted based on existing revenues and costs. Priority would be placed on emergency needs and items that would be necessary to keep the facilities operational.
The price points listed in the proposed projects list are estimates based on the market conditions at the time the list was created. If the referendum is approved, the Board will move forward with actual detailed project plans. Due to the cost of the proposed projects, they will need to be formally bid. Bids are awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. If the costs exceed the revenue amount, the Board may consider reducing the scopes of one or more of the projects and/or allocating funds from the operating budget to address the difference. Alternatively, if pricing is more in the favor of the district, the Board could address more of the identified projects.
For questions or more information, contact District 88 Director of Community Relations Dani Brink at dbrink@dupage88.net or 630-530-3989.