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Building
Improvements--$10 million will be used for building improvements including roofing,
window replacement, tuckpointing, and interior renovations such as
ceilings, flooring, electrical, plumbing, and heating.
Construction--$97.5
million of the amount will be used for new construction including:
$75 million for a new 1,800-student high school,
including the necessary technology, furniture, and athletic fields.
This amount also includes $18 million remaining from the 2007
approved bond;
$7.5 million for additional gyms/physical
education space at Hickman and Rock Bridge high schools; and
$15 million for a new elementary school.
Air Conditioning--$14.8
million will be used to air-condition the remaining
non-air-conditioned schools and replace boilers.
Technology--$7.5
million will provide funding for computers in classrooms and labs
and network infrastructure improvements.
Interest and Fees--$8.2
million will be used to pay for costs associated with bond funding,
including $1.2 million in bond issuance costs and a contingency fund
of $7 million for interest during construction should assessed
valuation remain flat or become negative.
Q. Why is there a need for these
items?
A. The Board of Education has adopted the following goals based on a
study and evaluation of district facilities:
1. Reduce overcrowding in schools, including
reducing the number of trailers
2. Improve the physical and learning
environments in all schools and all facilities
3. Reduce the number of student grade-level
transitions to K-5, 6-8, and 9-12, including moving ninth graders to
the high school buildings
4. Increase the functional life and
operational/energy efficiency of district buildings
Q. What is the total construction
cost?
A. The total project plan is $138 million. $18 million of the first
$60 million approved by voters in 2007 has not yet been spent in
anticipation of building a new high school. This bond request is
part of the district's long-range facilities plan. Funds will be
expended over a five-year period. The $120 million bond request is
the combination of the final two $60 million funding requests that
were originally proposed by the Long-range Facilities Planning
Committee. The change was made in order to allow the district to
realize cost savings, improved efficiencies, and reduction of risk
by completing construction of the new high school in one phase
rather than three phases. Additionally, the revised plan will allow
for a simpler transition period for students impacted by the
reduction of grade-level transitions and addition of new school
buildings.
Q. Why now?
A. The current economic environment presents a positive climate for
obtaining competitive construction bids. Additionally, the market
conditions mean that the interest rates on bond sales remain at
historically low levels.
Q. Is there a long-range plan for
facilities?
A. Yes. The plan development included a community engagement process
to help determine facility and program priorities; an educational
adequacy study to evaluate each building's ability to support the
current and future programs; and an engineering study that evaluated
the physical condition and energy efficiency of our buildings. The
results of these studies are available at the
Columbia
Public Schools Web site. Based on these studies, the planning
committee made recommendations to the Board of Education for
addressing school facilities in the district. The plan also supports
the district's strategic planning goals.
Q. The proposal is for a
no-tax-rate-increase bond issue. Can the bond be spent on salaries,
benefits, and supplies?
A. No. By law, bond issues only provide funds for new construction,
renovation of existing facilities, technology, and the purchase of
furniture and equipment. These funds cannot be used to pay for
salaries, benefits, or supplies.
Q. Can the district afford to operate
the new school buildings?
A. Yes. The district has developed a five-year budget model that
includes increasing fund balances to prepare for the opening of the
new high school in 2013. Additionally, with the ability to reduce
the number of grade-level transitions, current teachers and staff
will shift to other buildings accordingly.
Q. Are the proposed bond amounts
within accepted limits?
A. Yes. Bonding capacity for a school district is set by state
statute. Bonding capacity cannot exceed 15 percent of the assessed
value of all state and local non-tax-exempt property in the
district. The $120 million proposed bond is within the school
district's capacity without the need to increase the current tax
rate.
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