(Atlantic) Residents of the Atlantic Community School District will vote on three ballot measures on November 4, following action by the Board of Education at a special meeting Thursday night.
The board approved petitions from community members for two bond referendums. The first is a $22.5 million general obligation bond to fund improvement and expansion projects at four attendance centers. The second is an $18.5 million sales tax revenue bond for the proposed construction of a multipurpose activity center at the high school campus.
The third measure is a Revenue Purpose Statement (RPS), which outlines how Iowa school districts may use revenue from the statewide one-cent sales tax fund known as Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE).
“These ballot measures reflect input from our community about how we can continue to strengthen our facilities and provide more resources and opportunities for our students,” said Superintendent Dr.
Beth Johnsen. “We encourage our community members to learn more about each proposal before casting their vote in November.”
General obligation bonds require supermajority approval of at least 60 percent to pass. Sales tax revenue bonds and RPS measures require a majority approval of at least 50 percent.
If approved, the general obligation bond and sales tax revenue bond would provide funding for specific facility projects, while the RPS would authorize the district’s continued use of SAVE funds for purposes such as building improvements, technology, and infrastructure.
“As a board, our goal is to make decisions that support students today while also strengthening our schools for years to come,” said Board President Laura McLean. “Together, these measures reflect the priorities we have heard from families and residents, and our voters will have choices.”
For more than a year, the board and administration have studied ACSD’s facility needs and explored potential solutions. During this process, architects and engineers completed an assessment of the district’s buildings and grounds and helped create a Master Facility Plan that identified approximately $40 million in critical needs.
All of the high-priority projects could not be completed using SAVE revenue alone. For example, the needs in our buildings exceed $18.5 million, which is the maximum amount that ACSD is willing to commit from the SAVE revenue bonds. That’s why the board decided to seek $22.5 million through general obligation bonds for that part of the project.In August, the board approved a plan to use a combination of general obligation bonds and SAVE revenue bonds to finance the facility plan’s projects, thereby reducing the need for local property taxes to finance all of the projects.
“This approach allows us to invest in safe, updated facilities for students and staff while lessening the burden on local taxpayers,” Johnsen said.
If approved, the $22.5 million general obligation bond would cover the demolition of the oldest portions of Washington Elementary School and the construction of two classroom wings for prekindergarten, kindergarten, and 1st grade students. A new secure entrance, cafeteria, art room, music room, and special education space would also be built.
Washington would also receive a new traffic loop to improve student dropoff and pickup, and improvements would be made to the bus lanes, parking lot, and building facade.
A new connecting bridge with a commons space would be built between Schuler Elementary School and Atlantic Middle School. Each of these facilities would receive secure entrance improvements, and the restrooms on three floors would be renovated at Schuler.
Projects at Atlantic High School would include secure entrance improvements and a renovation of the media center. Four new classrooms would be added and a new multipurpose gathering space would be created to accommodate small-group learning.
If the $18.5 million sales tax revenue bond is approved, it would finance the construction of a new multipurpose activity center connected to the high school. Preliminary plans for the center include three standard courts, a mezzanine level with a three-lane track, a large weight room, and a turf area for batting cages and practice.
Currently, the AHS gymnasium is used for physical education, athletic practices and competitions, band and choir performances, and commencement ceremonies. Large events are hosted by school organizations and community groups throughout the year.
A new activity center would allow the district to expand its physical education curriculum and strength and conditioning programs, while providing flexible scheduling to reduce the need for practices in the early mornings or evenings. It would also open the door to hosting youth tournaments, all-state music events, and other large gatherings that can provide a financial boost for the local business community.
“The activity center would provide year-round training space, ensure all athletes have safe and reliable facilities where they can practice and compete, and build a foundation for long-term success across all programs,” said Trojan Cheerleading Head Coach Katie Hedegaard-Moreno. “Beyond athletics, it would increase school pride, strengthen community involvement, and create opportunities for youth programs and community partnerships.”
An approved general obligation bond would have a tax impact of $1.10 per $1,000 of taxable property value. For a home assessed at $150,000, this would amount to an annual increase of approximately $72.93. The annual impact for agricultural property would be approximately $1.63 per acre, based on the Cass County average assessed value of $2,007 per acre.
An approved sales tax revenue bond or RPS would not increase property taxes or create a new tax.
More information about the ballot measures, including answers to frequently asked questions, is available at www.atlantic-bond.com. A schedule of town hall meetings about the bond referendums and RPS will be announced soon.
