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School preps for bond vote this fall
by Rob Poggenklass · News · February 21, 2007
Heating/cooling system at Hoover Elementary estimated near $3m
Local taxpayers will likely be asked this fall to support a multi-million-dollar bond issue to pay for a new heating and cooling system in the West Branch Community School District.
The West Branch School Board is gathering information that will most likely lead to a Sept. 11 vote on a $3 million bond issue. If the referendum is approved, the money will be used to install a new geothermal heating and cooling system at Hoover Elementary.
In order to pass the bond issue, the district will have to enlist the help of community volunteers. State law dictates that school boards must accept a petition to call for the bond vote. Once the petition has been formally accepted, the district can no longer advocate for passage of the bond issue.
At its regular meeting last Thursday, Feb. 15, the board of directors began searching for lawyers who have appropriate expertise in floating school bond issues. West Branch administrators have recommended Ahlers Law Firm, in Des Moines.
The board has received cost estimates on the geothermal heating and cooling system from Shive Hattery, a Cedar Rapids architectural and engineering firm. The firm projects the cost at between $2.6 million and $2.7 million.
Preparation for the bond issue takes many months, so school officials want to be sure they have the public support they need to get it passed. There’s no limit to the number of volunteers who can get involved with passing the bond issue.
“The more you bring in, the better off you’re going to be,” said Superintendent Craig Artist.
The school board also wants to make sure they don’t miss any of the necessary legal steps, which could delay the project by many months. Ahlers Law Firm has quoted a price of $3,700 for assistance to the district through the September bond issue.
“You have one shot at this,” said Artist. “You want to make sure you do it right.”
The proposed geothermal system at Hoover Elementary would provide the district with a significant upgrade to its current system, but it would also introduce air conditioning to the building for the first time. The school board has had several discussions about the possibility of a year-round school calendar sometime in the future. Board members are agreed that such a calendar would not be possible without air conditioning.
“We’re trying to look ahead to the 21st century. We’re trying to get to a point where we can use this facility 12 months a year,” said board member Richard Paulus. “We know that three or four months a year, the temperature here reaches a point of baking bread.”
The board must also decide whether to include an upgrade to West Branch Middle School in the proposed bond issue. The high school is the only one of the three schools that already has an air conditioning system.
If scheduled for Sept. 11, as has been suggested by administrators, the vote on the bond issue would coincide with local school board elections. Board members Jacinta Hart and Steve Nash are up for re-election this year. Hart has served one three-year term, starting in 2004. Nash, the board president, was first elected in 1988 and is in his 17th year on the board.
In other business, the school board:
• Received a recommendation from Artist to divide improvements to the district’s parking lots into two phases, due to cost. The improvements, scheduled for this summer, were estimated to cost less than $200,000 but bids came back at around $300,000.
The first phase of the asphalt project, to be completed this summer, would include upgrading the lot behind the press box at Oliphant Street Field, across from Hoover Elementary; the “island” lot, directly north of the high school; and the northwest lot at the high school, formerly known as the tennis courts. Artist said several handicapped spots will have to added, due to Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
In the second phase of the project, most likely next summer, the lot east of the high school will be improved.
• Approved the resignations of Dave Morris, high school journalism and English teacher; Jessica Taylor, dance team sponsor; Kathy Young, high school associate; and Rich Stout, assistant baseball coach.
• Approved the 2007-08 school calendar. The first day of school will be Wednesday, Aug. 22. The last day will be Wednesday, May 28, 2008. Commencement is May 25, 2008. Christmas break will begin after Friday, Dec. 21, and school will resume on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2008.
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