Schools Solicit Bond Input

WAITSBURG – After falling just 13 votes short of the required 60-percent supermajority approval needed to pass a $4.8 million capital projects bond measure in February, the Waitsburg School District is making one more attempt to determine which items voters will support. Mail surveys were sent to district patrons on June 24 with the hopes that the responses will allow the board to craft a bond proposal that voters can get behind.

The school board will review the voter responses at their July 13 meeting and determine the next steps in potentially running a revised bond in the November election.

“We hope that mailing out surveys, rather than having an online survey, will generate more responses to help guide us in making decisions about what to include in the bond,” said Superintendent Carol Clarke.

The mail survey individually lists each project item and projected cost, along with the rationale behind the upgrade and research supporting the educational value of the improvement.

Items included on the original bond were: upgrade HVAC in the elementary, Preston Hall and WHS ($2.4-$2.9 million); comprehensive remodel of the district kitchen ($660,000 - $940,000); construction of a field house at the athletic field ($510,000); high school parking lot improvements ($252,000); and the installation of a 6-lane all-weather track and improvement of field amenities ($700,000 - $950,000).

Board members and attendees at previous meetings have said that they have heard negative public comments about the high cost of the proposed HVAC system and the installation of an all-weather track.

Clarke said that the current HVAC systems are over 20 years old and new electrical systems will be required in order to work with a new HVAC system, increasing the cost. She said that during the last weeks of school some classrooms were over 90 degrees, and teachers worked with the lights out just to keep the room temperatures down.

Clarke also stressed that the district isn’t looking at just adding air conditioning, but would be installing an entire new heating, ventilation, and cooling system.

Track Coach Jeff Bartlow and Board Chair Ross Hamann have consistently spoken in favor of track upgrades, citing the fact that more students turn out for track & field than any other sport, the athletes are highly successful, and yet they have very poor facilities.

The existing dirt track has drainage issues and floods often during the season, can’t be used to host meets, and students are often bused to Dayton for practice. Many community members use the track for exercise and would also benefit from improvements.

Objections to the installation of an all-weather facility have been the high cost as well as concerns for the costs associated with ongoing maintenance.

District patrons are asked to check whether or not they will support each item on the survey and are encouraged to include comments explaining their position. Completed surveys may be returned to the elementary school, placed in the City Payments box at City Hall, or returned by mail.

Discussion on community responses to the survey will be on the agenda at the school board’s July 13 meeting at 7 p.m. at the Preston Hall Board Room.