By Pat Maurer
Correspondent
Information received last weekend about the coming bond request is NOT a new millage.
Superintendent Jim Walter notified me (Pat Maurer) that the $12.1 million request is actually
an extension of the current debt millage assessment (2.8 mills) for a period of 15 years, and
represents NO INCREASE in the millage rate, if approved.
I apologise if the information in last week’s article was misleading. The information was taken
from the resolution the board had passed at their meeting, and I misunderstood the wording.
Walter explained, “After a series of conversations over the past several months, the Board
heard voters clearly, and is now seeking a handful of renovations and improvements without
raising the tax rate on citizens. The point of emphasis for Board members was improving our
district while asking for NO INCREASE in the tax rate.”
He continued, “The project would focus on safety and security first, creating secure vestibules
at both the high school and middle school (guest access is controlled at the office before being
granted access anywhere else in the building)…the Primary School already has a secure
vestibule.”
Walter said, “It would also include building a new industrial arts shop on the current high
school (we currently operate multiple programs in one space at the middle school…a second
space would be safer from a working perspective and allow us to have high school students stay
at the high school (for safety purposes) rather than crossing to the middle school daily. It would
allow for some modernization in an era where the trades are so very important to our community
and state.”
The Superintendent added, “The project also proposes to build a cafeteria at the primary
school. Currently, our gym is closed for nearly 3 hours each day to physical education classes to
use the space as a cafeteria, necessitating lunches beginning as early as 10:30 a.m. The proposed
new cafeteria would allow for a better lunch schedule for students and keep the gym open for
students throughout the day.”
“Finally,” Walter said, “a series of renovations including a new middle school roof, new
windows replacing the original primary school windows, plumbing & mechanical renovations,
and playground improvements at the primary school are included. One bus would be purchased
with the funds, and instructional technology for classrooms is also included.”
He concluded, “Again, the Board of Education heard the public clearly after two attempts to
build a new school. They are focused at this time on safety & security, renovations to the three
main buildings that range from 52 to 102 years old, and building a new industrial arts space and
cafeteria to make the students’ experience better in our district, all while asking for NO
INCREASE in the millage rate.
