Bond issue ballot language ready at NEN

Conceptual design

The Northeast Nodaway R-V School District will place a $416,000 general obligation, no tax increase bond issue on the April 7 ballot.

The proposed bond issue will allow the district to expand the library, enclose the north exit doors, add a weight room as well as a classroom or two — things Superintendent Jeff Mehlenbacher announced during a community meeting Dec. 8 after they were identified over a four-year period by a short and long-term planning committee consisting of parents, patrons and teachers.

“There is a long laundry list of items that have already been completed, from replacing the windows, from replacing carpet,” Mehlenbacher said. “These are just things that have not been completed and they are the committee’s priority. Obviously, they are bigger ticket type items and they are things that effect all students, which is always a good reason to include those kinds of things if you’re running a bond issue like this.”

Now, the ballot language is ready to go before voters in April. The question will read: “Shall the Board of Education of the Northeast Nodaway County R-V School District, Missouri, without an estimated increase in the current debt service levy, borrow money in the amount of four hundred sixteen thousand dollars ($416,000) for the purpose of providing funds to construct, equip, and furnish a library expansion, classroom addition, meeting room, weight room; and to the extent funds are available, complete other construction, remodeling and repair improvements t other existing facilities of the District; and issue bonds for the payment thereof? If this proposition is approved, the adjusted debt service of the School District is estimated to remain unchanged at $0.7707 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation of real and personal property.”

While the district is issuing $416,000 in new debt, no tax increase will be required. In fact, Mehlenbacher said, taxes will actually go down.

The school’s debt service levy, which is 77 cents per $100 of assessed valuation will not change, but the 55-cent operating levy voters approved in 2010 expires this year and the district is not asking for its renewal.

“It’s not a tax increase. It’s actually a tax decrease when you consider the temporary levy going off,” Mehlenbacher said.

Due to retiring some debt and paying other debt obligations early, the current debt service fund levy is adequate to repay the $416,000 in new bonds. However, current debt will be extended three years to repay the proposed debt, according to a pamphlet the district has distributed to patrons.

The district is also planning on using approximately $400,000 in Capital Project reserves to help finance the project.

According to the proposed plan by Ellison Auxier Architects, Inc., construction plans were created to increase the school’s square footage by 3,385 square feet, which will give them the necessary room to complete these projects.

Renovations would more than double the size of the current library and provide designated spaces for a computer lab and an Interactive Television classroom.

Enclosing the north exits would reduce the security risk of having students travel outside to move from class-to-class and also allow for the additional classrooms to be constructed within the enclosure.

The new classrooms would create space for speech, technology, Parents as Teachers, Title I Reading, reading and math groups, SPED testing and social worker visits among other things.

Currently, weights and workout equipment are stored on the K-12 school’s stage, which is a safety concern. The stage will eventually need to be supported from underneath in the old locker room if the equipment remains on the stage.

Construction can begin if more than 57 percent of district residents vote in favor of the bond.