The upcoming referendum was the main topic of conversation for the Kingsland School Board during their August 19 meeting.
Pat Overom, of ICS Consulting Inc., reviewed the referendum handbook saying, “The intent of this is to outline your roles as board members and district staff, the process that was gone through, challenges the district is currently facing and it really articulates the proposed plan.”
The district is proposing a two question ballot. The first question being $8.9 million worth of physical facility needs.
According to Overom, the scope of question one relates to physical facility needs including roof, building envelope improvements, window replacements and some hard surface replacements with paving areas and sidewalks.
Question two is is the creation of additional space for physical education, community education and flexible, multipurpose programming at an estimated cost of $11.5 million.
The total of both sections is estimated at $20.4 million with the second question contingent on the passage of question one.
“There are really two main facility challenges right now facing the district. The critical maintenance improvements piece and then in addition you are lacking dedicated space for during the day physical education and that is what really drove the gymnasium piece. The additional piece in question two is not being driven by enrollment, it is really being driven by the need to accommodate some of the ongoing program areas and curriculum areas that are evolving.”
Overom noted the gymnasium would also be able to accommodate after-school practices, as well as sporting events.
When discussing the impact on residents, Overom explained, “The tax impact on a $200,000 home is roughly $3.86 (per month) for question one and $4.92 (per month) for question two. One thing that is different from your last referendum is that the Ag2School tax credit does kick in and cover just under 40% of the tax burden associated with this. And in essence what that does on the ag property is it takes what would have been about a 57% piece of the overall tax impact pie and dropped it down to about 39.7% that is covered, so those property owners would be covering about 17% of the total tax associated with the proposal.”
Residents are able to calculate their estimated personal tax impact on the kingslandbond.org website under the cost section.
“As a district you’ve got the horribly impossible chore of balancing educational needs, financial needs and constraints and community desires,” Overom expressed. “One of the things that is critical you understand is that in your role as a board member you are tasked, as a public entity of the district, that has to deliver factual information and get that consistent message out there. As a board member you are not able to advocate. Your job as a board member is to get the word out and make sure accurate and consistent information is getting out to everyone. As voters they need to be as informed as possible.”
If the referendum passes, most of the spring and early portion of summer 2025 would be dedicated to design activities. The project would begin the bidding process in late summer or early fall. Construction would be phased with the project beginning in fall of 2025 through late summer of 2027
Other business
- The board thanked IBM, on behalf of Mitch Lentz, for their $1,067.20 donation to online curriculum subscriptions; KABC for the $10,925 donation to the athletic department for banners and signage, and Stephanie Derby and Scott Mulholland for their $40 donation in memory of Arlene Oeltjen and Julie Schwade.
- The board welcomed new hires Mackenzie Wannarka, Jodi Helm, Rachel Hayden. While all teaching positions are filled, the district is still in need of some para professionals.
- Prairie Farms was awarded the milk bid.
- Bodine Oil Company was awarded the fuel bid.
- The meal prices were approved by the board. The cost for preschool to fifth grade breakfast is $1.55 and lunch is $2.55. The cost for grade six through eighth is $1.65 for breakfast and $2.65 for lunch. Grades nine through 12 will pay $1.75 for breakfast and $2.75 for lunch. The adult cost is $2.75 for breakfast and $4.95 for lunch.
- The flexible learning plan, which is the same as last school year, was approved.
- The preschool teachers Laurie Weiss and Cierra Ulwelling will be splitting the ECFE position.
- The board gave its approval for school staff to apply for a grant for a new AED.
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