Board of Education - Public Hearing, April 7, 2026

The Belvidere School District 100 Board of Education held a public hearing on April 7, 2026, to discuss the potential closure of Perry Elementary School. The meeting focused heavily on community input regarding the school's future, with numerous speakers expressing strong opposition to closure and emphasizing the school's importance as a neighborhood institution. The district presented details about the facility master plan, including phase one projects such as ADA compliance upgrades and roof restoration, and noted that further costly improvements estimated between $7 to $9 million would be needed in phase two. Concerns were raised about deferred maintenance, budget allocations, and the financial implications of either renovating or closing the school. Several speakers questioned the validity of surveys used to inform the decision and highlighted the impact on students, families, and the community if the school were closed. No formal votes or motions related to procurement or contract awards were recorded during this meeting, but the discussion revealed significant community interest in how future capital improvement projects and budget decisions will be managed for Perry Elementary and the district overall.