ATLANTIC, IA — The School Board of the Atlantic Community School District has issued the following statement regarding proposed improvements to facilities using sales tax and general obligation bonds:
“The School Board is committed to modernizing our schools for the future and providing students in our community with the resources they need to fulfill their potential both in and out of the classroom.
Over the past year, significant time and effort have been dedicated to studying the facility challenges our students and staff face, as well as exploring potential solutions. This process included a thorough assessment of our schools and the creation of a master plan that identified $40 million in potential improvements.
The costs associated with addressing the master plan’s projects at Washington, Schuler, the middle school, and the high school cannot be resolved alone using revenue the Atlantic Community School District receives from the state’s one-cent sales tax fund for education, known as SAVE. For this reason, we chose a plan in which sales tax revenue bonds and general obligation bonds would be used together to improve our facilities, which reduces the burden on local property taxpayers.
On Wednesday evening, we took the first step of approving $18.5 million worth of sales tax revenue bonds that would be repaid using future SAVE funds. District residents will take the second step in November by voting on a $22.5 million general obligation bond.
The sales tax revenue bonds are earmarked for the construction of a new multipurpose practice facility at the high school, which would address the growing need for more gymnasium, instructional, and practice space. General obligation bonds would support the construction of classroom additions and specialized learning spaces at Washington Elementary, security improvements at our attendance centers, new classrooms and meeting space at the high school, and a new skywalk connection and commons between the middle school and Schuler Elementary, among other updates.
The order in which decisions are made does not reflect any sort of project prioritization. State law only allows school districts to have voters consider general obligation bonds yearly, in November. Delaying these projects will lead to higher costs in the future, which calls for a sense of urgency.
We will continue to provide updates about the proposed improvements to our schools and the ways we intend to fund them between now and the November 4 election. This process will include the creation of an informational website, direct mailers, social media updates, and community meetings.
Thank you for your engagement on these important issues and for all of the support you provide to our schools and the students we serve.”
