Howards Grove School District seeks OK to borrow $3.4M
Officials in the Howards Grove School District will put to voters a referendum on whether the district should borrow $3.4 million to pay for building maintenance and technology upgrades.
In a special meeting last week, the School Board voted, 4-1, to send the measure to voters. That vote split the difference of two previous votes — one to borrow $3.8 million and another to borrow $3 million. Both of those votes failed, 3-2.
School Board member Richard Hemb voted against the $3.4 million measure, but for the $3.8 million motion.
About $2.4 million of the money would be go toward facility maintenance projects, including replacing the roof, doors, and windows at Howards Grove Middle School and upgrading the school's lighting, electrical, heating, ventilation, and
air conditioning systems. Digital control systems also would be installed at all three district school to improve energy efficiency and reduce operating costs.
About $1 million would be used to pay for technology improvements at all three schools, including installing
network infrastructure, wiring, server and cable upgrades.
"These are immediate needs that have to be addressed and they can't be addressed through the regular operations of the district," district Administrator Chris Peterson said.
The district last year paid the last of its debt service on $7.9 million that was used to build Howards Grove High School in the mid-1990s, Peterson said. As a result, the district tax rate would likely stay the same if the new referendum passes.
"This means the district can address numerous basic maintenance and technology needs without an increase in
taxes," Peterson said.
He said the exact impact of the referendum on the tax rate wouldn't be known for a week or so.
Should the referendum not pass, officials say they will have to consider instituting cost-saving measures such as not replacing teachers who
retire, increasing class sizes, freezing wages, lowering building temperatures, cleaning classrooms three times per week instead of every day and reducing bus routes.
A Citizens Advisory Committee recommended late last year that the school board launch a capital improvement project to address maintenance and technology needs.
Peterson said a schedule for public informational meetings on the referendum would be announced in the next few days
No comments:
Post a Comment