What does “paid in two steps” mean?
The district borrows the money in two parts, not all at once. The first part comes in 2028 and covers about two-thirds of the cost. The second part comes in 2030 and brings it to the full amount. So your tax goes up in two smaller steps instead of one big jump, and the most it ever reaches is the 2030 amount.
How much will the bond cost my home?
It depends on your home’s assessed value, and it comes in two steps. For a $300,000 home, it starts around $129 a year in 2028 and tops out around $192 a year from 2030, about $16 a month at the most. Use the calculator on the cost page to see your exact number.
What about the 2024 roof tax we already paid?
It paid to replace the failing roof over the two-story wing. The old roof had rusted through. That money did its job. And that tax drops off your bill in 2026.
Didn't the roof work go wrong last time?
It rained hard during the roof work and caused damage. Insurance paid to fix it, so taxpayers didn’t. Next time, the district will set firm schedules and rain plans with the builder before work starts.
Why is the hallway ceiling still open?
On purpose. A new ceiling would cost about $70,000. Then they’d rip it right back out to run new wires and ducts in the remodel. Leaving it open saves paying twice. That’s smart planning, not neglect.
Is the bond the only money for this?
No. The district is going after grants too, to lower your share. That includes money for the shop classes and a state grant to remove lead.
Is this just making the school bigger?
No. This is mostly a remodel of a building still running on its original 1959 systems. It adds some space for shop classes and labs, but the bigger goal is fixing what is failing and pulling the whole school under one roof, including the art classes that sit in a separate building today. The district already cut $8.9 million and the larger expansion from last year’s plan. See everything that changed.
What exactly gets fixed?
The failing 1959 systems: heat, pipes, wiring, roof, walls, and windows. Plus fire sprinklers throughout, seven secure entrances instead of roughly thirty-two unsecured doors, a rebuilt gym floor, locker rooms with private showers, a real theater, two new shop classes, and the art classes brought back under one roof. The full plan is on the main page.
When and how do I vote?
You vote by mail. Ballots go out September 11. Yours must be back by 8 p.m. on September 29. The full step-by-step guide is here.