Last bond issue forum before election

Friday, October 24, 2014
Jason E. Silvers/Tribune photos USD 234 Superintendent Bob Beckham explains planned improvements to the high school auditorium as part of a proposed school bond issue during the last of four public forums on the issue Thursday night. Beckham said the auditorium is slated to undergo several repairs and renovation projects. School personnel are currently harvesting parts to make repairs to the auditorium. Beckham said a row of seats near the wall pictured were removed so the parts could be used.

The final public forum on a proposed $40.8 million school bond issue drew further discussion on the tax impact and purpose behind the planned district-wide improvement projects.

About 10 people turned out for the final forum on the school bond issue, which will go before voters on the Nov. 4 ballot. USD 234 Superintendent Bob Beckham and USD 234 Board of Education President Jordan Witt facilitated the forum, which was attended by a handful of bond committee members and school board members. The gathering took place in the Fort Scott High School media center.

Witt once again provided a brief background on how the bond issue came about following a needs assessment conducted last year, as well as input gathered from community members, staff and students which identified needs included in the bond proposal.

"We first saw millions of dollars in repairs alone and that pushed us to a bond issue," Witt said. "We don't have that kind of money."

Other discussion revolved around similar bond issues going on in nearby communities such as Iola, where a bond issue involving building new schools has elicited much debate and community division.

Some residents in attendance Thursday talked about how the bond issue will affect property owners in rural areas such as farmers and producers who are dealing with skyrocketing prices in other areas. One question involved whether the property tax numbers outlined by the district for agricultural property owners were accurate and what rural property owners would be paying.

Beckham said the figures provided in district information were projected "a little high" by the district's financial advisor. Board member Jamie Armstrong agreed, saying there was an "over estimate" in the numbers "so they didn't shoot too low and (taxpayers) feel they were lied to."

"It's driven by the company in business of issuing the bonds," Armstrong said. "Each parcel of land is different."

According to numbers provided by the district, owners of 160 acres of dry crop land would pay $75.28 per year and owners of 160 acres of grassland would pay $17.95 per year in additional property taxes if the bond issue passes.

"There's no hidden, additional amount here," Witt said.

Rural resident Maybelle Mertz said she attended to learn more information about how the bond issue will affect local farmers.

"Costs are going up everywhere," Mertz said.

School officials said the best recommendation for property owners who want to know exactly what they will pay in additional property taxes if the bond issue passes is to contact Bourbon County Appraiser Judy Wallis.

Beckham said if the bond issue fails, it will cost considerably more than the $19 million taxpayers will shoulder if it passes "just to address the most urgent needs now." He said taxpayers would be left paying 100 percent of the cost of the projects needed for the next 25 years, which would be the life of the proposed bonds.

"If this is voted down due to a tax increase, I will have to go back to the board and ask for a mill levy increase as part of my duty," he said. "It would just be enough to scratch the surface ... to me, raising taxes is not the issue. It's inevitable."

Beckham said he is "convinced" the 51 percent in state aid funding that is guaranteed to help make the bond payments will decrease or not be available next year.

"I'm convinced the state will take funding away," he said.

Armstrong said when the board started the process of looking at a bond issue and community forums were held to garner input, it was looking at costs exceeding $30 million just to address immediate needs soon, "and those needs kept growing."

"It's not that we're afraid the walls are going to fall in," Armstrong said. "It's now or never."

In response to an audience question, Beckham said it is possible the state would pay more than 51 percent toward the bonds if local assessed property valuations were to go down.

"It's a mathematical wash once we're in," he said.

Beckham said he also feels the district's enrollment will increase following the bond issue if it passes.

Responding to another question regarding bond money going toward athletic needs versus academic needs, Witt said about $7 million of the total cost of the bond package is "athletic related," while the remainder of improvements will go toward such needs as school safety and security and technology which contribute to the "educational atmosphere."

"We're way behind other school districts in educational opportunities," Witt said.

Beckham said he has found "the more involved a student is in activities, the better they do academically." He also said a strong school system "will attract people."

Other discussion revolved around the economic development aspect of the bond issue and whether people or companies who visit Fort Scott want to know about academics or athletic facilities. The consensus among school officials was that people are interested in both.

"I think they want a safer environment for students," board member Gary Billionis said, adding people show an interest in progression in a community. "You talk about the football field, it's not a necessity, but it's progressive, and we want to be good stewards of people's money."

Prior to the discussion, Beckham led attendees on a brief tour of the high school, which school officials have said may have the most pressing needs of all district buildings. The group walked down hallways visiting classrooms and other areas of the school as Beckham explained the history of the building and its current needs.

Planned improvements at the high school include new secure school entrances and relocation of administration offices, new high-wind shelters that will double as classrooms, renovation of the current auditorium, a new auxiliary gymnasium east of the present gym for student and program needs, repair of structural damage on the east wall of the gym, renovation of classrooms, restrooms, the cafeteria, locker rooms and commons areas.

The group viewed the commons area which will be completely renovated, the auditorium which would receive new carpet, lighting, seating, repair of termite damage, a new sound system and stage riggings, a classroom used by the drama department which has a braced wall, and a hallway in which a pipe in the ceiling burst earlier this year causing hundreds of gallons of water to gush onto hallway floors. They also visited a hallway toward the front of the building where offices would be relocated and high-wind shelters would be located if improvements are made.

Replacement of mechanical systems and heating and cooling systems at the high school are among other proposed improvements. Beckham said old PVC pipes in the ceilings break often, shutting down systems by default.

During the tour, Beckham said a minimum of 20 of the 45 classrooms are painted each year. He said the current gym was built in the 1960s.