Star-Journbal Editor
Noisier than the driving rainstorm hammering on the metal roof of the 4-H building, scores of excited Hillsboro Elementary School children scurried from booth to booth Friday evening, looking for fun things to do at the annual all-school carnival.
While the children played, USD 410 officials entrusted with their educational future stood near a semi-circle of plans and drawings they'd set up give carnival-going parents a first look at what could be a brighter future for all district students — if voters approve on June 5 a $6.625 million bond referendum for facility addi-
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tions, stadium expansion, and improvements.
Superintendent Gordon Mohn and board vice president Eddie Weber answered questions about the architectural renderings and handed out copies of an eight-page booklet on the proposed project. While board members and school officials are prohibited by law from campaigning for a bond referendum's passage, public meetings and presentations such as the one set up Friday evening are allowed.
The carnival atmosphere added to the excitement school officials already were feeling about finally being able to unveil their plans after more than a year on the drawing board.
"This is the first one presentation we've done, and there will be several others," Weber said "All of the board members will be taking turns [making presentations] as we move forward."
The architecture firm of Howard & Helmer of Wichita also will be involved in marketing and promoting the project, through public meetings and focus groups. Patrons are encouraged to attend these events in order to more fully understand the proposal and its cost to property owners.
School board president Rod Koons is confident the district can answer enough hard questions to convince a simple majority of voters to think more about the children than their rising property tax bills.
Koons says the board will be asking the public to support what he called the next step in the district's long-standing, common-sense philosophy of making continual upgrades and improvements to its facilities, gradually, over time.
"We don't want to get to the point where we wake up one morning and all of a sudden everything is a wreck," he said. "Most voters are going to realize that you need to improve over time, or the day will come when you have to do a $15 million dollar bond issue. Making improvements every 10, 15, and 20 years keeps us ahead of the curve.
"We have a plan that has merit and values and will show the voters of USD 410 that we're committed to education and the facilities in the district," Koons said.
The booklet describes the proposed projects in a problem-solution format, beginning with the Hillsboro Elementary School expansion, traffic flow, and parking improvements. [See Story, Pg. ?]
The proposed bond issue includes refinancing the final years of the bond that was issued in 1992 for construction of Hillsboro Middle School. In 2006-07 the district assessed 3.165 mills for funding these 1992 bonds. The new issue will result in a net mill levy gain of 2.335 mills in 2007-08.
Over the next several years the levy will gradually increase to a net gain of 4.835 mills. The table [below] represents the increase to property taxes resulting from a mill levy increase of 2.335 and 4.835 mills. USD 410 will be financing these projects through the issuance of general obligation bonds with a term of 20 years. Revenue for the annual bond payments will be generated from local property taxes and aid provided by the State of Kansas. Presently state aid for these bonds is at 31 percent.
Koons said the school board is ready to face the test of public scrutiny because it did its homework. After more than a year of revisions, scrutiny, and sharpened pencils, the original project of more than $10 million was whittled down to the proposed $6.625 million.
Even so, Koons is taking nothing for granted. The recent uproar over a proposal to increase sales tax to pay for a new Marion County jail is still fresh on his mind.
"There's a lot of uneasiness in the [community]," Koons said. "We didn't go public until now because we wanted to all be on board on the plan, and basically be ready to go to market with it. We need to go out in the public eye, maybe use the site councils in our schools and other venues so we can educate the public. We'll need to have that feedback before we move forward."
Although only one school referendum has ever failed in Hillsboro (voters voted "no" in the early 1970s on a question to build a new high school on the outskirts of the city) Koons isn't taking anything for granted.
He doesn't expect the referendum to get a rubber stamp from the public this time around.
"That's the way it's going to be and that's the beauty of the system we live in," he said. "We can have critics, but still be in the spirit of collaboration; have the right goals in mind, and be able to explain ourselves. Nobody can make 100 percent of the people happy, it isn't possible. But if somebody doesn't like the project, that doesn't mean they're not going to support it if we have our ducks in order, which I think we do.
"I think it's something that the public will see as a needed improvement to our community."
But if improved facilities for the children and sound property maintenance practices aren't sufficient motivation to garner your vote for the project, Koons isn't above appealing to your sense of school spirit and community pride.
"If you look at this project, it offers a lot for a lot of people," Koons said. "For the person who has elementary kids or some kids coming in, or high school, and middle school level, plus it offers something for the public, at Reimer Field. Whose to say that our commencement exercises wouldn't be held outside there, if we had a decent place?
"Everybody here is proud to be a resident of Hillsboro, and proud that their kids go to 410 schools, and this is a part of that. It's all part of wanting to portray a good image. We want people thinking, 'Why cant we be like Hillsboro?' An important thing in our community is to be seen as a leader.
"We would welcome any public comments about this or any other USD 410 issue," he added. "People can feel free to contact me at any time."
In order to vote in the June 5 election, you must reside in USD 410, be registered to vote, and be at least 18 years of age.
Patrons may use the form provided in the project booklet to register for the election or may register in person at the Marion County Clerk's Office in Marion. Deadline for registering is May 21.
Project booklets are free and can be obtained at the central office, or at future presentations, which will be announced in advance.
Next week: The high school improvement projects.
