The bond, set to be voted on with early voting from April 22-30 and election day on May 4, is a response to the district's enrollment increase and the aging infrastructure of its schools.
The elementary school, originally built in 1909 and last upgraded in 1997, is described as in "dire need" of renovations.
The bond allocates $4.5 million towards adding classrooms and making improvements.
The addition of six classrooms is a component of the plan, designed to accommodate the increased student population, which has risen to 634 students in the 2023-24 school year from 477 students in the 2016-17 school year.
These new classrooms will enable students to remain inside the building for instruction, enhance safety, and improve learning outcomes, the school district reports.
Apart from addressing the need for classroom space, the bond will also fund updates to the cafeteria, built in 1968, to support more than two grade levels of students at a time and provide space for guests during lunch hours.
Additional improvements include the creation of a new entrance and administrative area at the elementary school, construction of a new building for intermediate grades (5th to 8th), renovations to the high school's band hall, and updates to the agricultural building.
The district highlights the bond's benefits for teachers and students by providing modernized spaces for intervention services, currently held in non-traditional settings like the teacher’s lounge or library corners.
For residents concerned about the financial impact, the district reassures that property owners aged 65 and older are eligible for a tax exemption that freezes their school district taxes.
Subscribe to the LIVE! Daily
Required
Post a comment to this article here: