Residents of Unified School District 470 will have an opportunity, beginning next month, to vote on a proposed $35.8 million bond issue to fund district-wide improvement projects and build a new stadium west of the Arkansas City High School.
The state will pay 50 percent of the price tag. The average homeowner in the school district would pay $35.19 annually for the 20 year life of the bond issue, schools superintendent Ron Ballard said during a press conference Friday afternoon.
“The longer we wait, the more it’s going to cost,” Ballard said. ‘I don’t think we will have a better window of opportunity than we have right now.”
District residents must be registered to vote. Those who aren’t sure which school district they live in may review their last property tax statement to be sure. Ballots will be mailed Feb. 14 and must be returned to the county clerk’s office by noon March 4.
A citizens committee chaired by John Sturd and Sharon Ellis have been appearing before different groups to offer details of the proposal. They plan to hold several public hearings to reach as many people as possible. Anyone wishing to arrange a program may call Sturd at 741-3005.
Some improvements will have to be made whether the bond issue meets voter approval or not, Ballard said. Many buildings are over 50 years old with the original mechanical and heating-cooling systems still in operation.
Plumbing, lighting, windows, roof repairs and restrooms also need to be upgraded in the existing buildings. Libraries need to be improved and buildings need to be in compliance with the American Disabilities Act.
Early childhood education needs include preschool classrooms, all-day kindergarten classrooms in every elementary school and classroom additions that can serve as federally approved storm shelters.
Technology needs cited by Ballard include better security and safety for students, systems to handle a fiber optic network, new wiring and support software and improved communications.
The new athletic complex will include a football and soccer stadium and track, a softball complex, tennis courts and baseball improvements, a cross country path, additional athletic facilities and additional parking. Seating for 4,500 will be provided along with two new dressing rooms, new ticket,?concession, press box and public restroom areas, an additional 500 car parking area, officials dressing room and equipment storage.
The citizens committee broke into several groups to visit other school districts. Sturd said his group visited Rosehill, Maize and Valley Center and considered a number of options before making the?recommendations for the athletic complex. The final decision was based on what the committee decided would be in the best interest of students, Sturd said.
Improvements at the 26-year-old high school present the greatest challenge and the biggest price tag, Ballard said. To expand and remodel the high school will cost $8,805,000.
The cost of a new stadium comes in second at $5,335,000 followed by $5,023,000 cost to replace IXL Elementary School. To renovate the original portion of the Middle School will cost $4,023,000, according to figures provided by the school district.
OTHER ESTIMATES INCLUDE:
* Expand and renovate Roosevelt?Elementary – $834,960.
* Expand and renovate Francis Willard Elementary – $1,545,000.
* Expand and renovate Jefferson Elementary – $2,019,000
* Expand and renovate C-4 Elementary – $1,152,600.
* Expand and renovate Adams Elementary – $2,809,230.
* Upgrade technology – $1,800,000.
* Other projects – $2,490,000.
Under other projects are 10 new lighted high school tennis courts at $550,000; four high school softball fields at $1,562,000; $25,000 to replace the high school auditorium curtains and $78,000 to replace 600 high school auditorium seats. Another $250,000 is needed to resurface the high school parking and drives and $25,000 the upgrade the high school parking lot lighting.
The bond market is currently attractive and both the state and local economies are stable, Ballard said.
USD 470 voters approved a bond issue in 1996 with a tax rate of 10.74 mills. New classrooms were added but no other changes were made other than some carpentry and storage areas, according to Ballard.
In 2001, state aid and bond refinancing allowed the district to reduce the bond levy by almost half. Last year, the district assessed 5.288 mills to repay the existing bonds. The new issue will result in an estimated increase of approximately 6.12 mills.
The district has less debt than other districts in Kansas of comparable size, Ballard said.
If approved the improvements will be staggered over a three year period. The school board supports the recommendations, he said. There has been little response from the public since fliers were mailed in December with information about the proposal. The majority of the people who have called Ballard wanted more information while some said they won’t vote on anything that might increase taxes, he said.
Sturd said the citizens committee initially met with a lot of questions as well as a lot of misinformation.
“I’ve been seeing a lot of support for it,” Sturd said.
“We want to make sure that people understand a very small amount of money is targeted for sports,” Ballard said. “We’re spending the vast majority of our money on academics.”
