The Normal School Board Wednesday night approved two referenda asking voters for more than $96 million.

The questions will appear on the February fifth primary ballot.

The money will help pay for three new schools and renovate eight existing buildings.
One question is a bond referendum, which will cover the bricks and mortar.
The second question is a 10–cent increase in the educational fund rate to help sustain the buildings.

Unit 5 Superintendent, Gary Neihaus, says the district is growing at a rate of about 400 students a year.
Neihaus says the referendum will help them just keep up with the population growth.
Grove Elementary School PTO President Mike Trask says he doesn't want to pay more taxes, but believes this is a good cause.

"The future of my children—I've got a first grader and a third grader and so we'll be in this district for several years. We have to have this," said Trask on Wednesday.

If voters say yes in February...the tax increase will cost the owner of a $300,000 home about $285 more a year in taxes.

If the voters say yes, the district hopes to complete all the renovations by 2015.