Jefferson C-123 fights for community support

By Phil Cobb | March 4, 2016 |

JEFFERSON C-123 SCHOOL DISTRICT
Jefferson C-123 gym

With the April 5 election only a month away, the Jefferson C-123 School District continues its quest to build enough community support to pass a $1.5 million general obligation bond for the construction of a new gymnasium.

If the issue passes this year, it will cost taxpayers 75 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

The issue has failed on several different occasions by very slim margins. Last year, the issue passed by a simple majority but not the 4/7 majority that it needed.

Jefferson C-123 Superintendent Tim Jermain said the March 16 Board of Education meeting will address how to run the community meeting that follows the next evening. As of yet, there is no set agenda for the community meeting.

The purpose of the meeting is to provide voters with information about the issue.

According to Jermain, the trouble with previous community meetings has been that those in attendance already favor the cause. This year, he said he is hoping more people who are against the bond will show up to ask questions and provide valuable feedback.

“Trying to get more people to come to the meeting is probably the biggest goal,” Jermain said.

Jermain said people who oppose the issue might not understand that the gymnasium isn’t just for sports.

“Our current gym is our most used classroom in the district,” he said.

Even though the school isn’t huge, Jermain said, the new gymnasium is a need.

“The current plan fits our needs, but by no means is it a big, extravagant gymnasium,” Jermain said. “It’s practical, and we really tried to design it focusing on needs, not just athletics.”

Sharing one gymnasium with pre-K through 12th grade creates lots of scheduling clashes, Jermain said. Having a second gymnasium would allow for students to have inside recess, team practices, and other classroom activities to take place concurrently with athletic activities.

The district will be using the same design for the gym as they did last year. Plans for the new gym increase bleacher space by 320 linear feet, which will double the current seating capacity.

Construction would take about 10 months to completion following voter approval.

Jermain says he doesn’t have a gut feeling about the outcome of the election.

“Most of the people who talk to me are positive,” Jermain said. “But that’s kind of been the same thing in the past.”

The community meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 17 at the school.