Earlier this month, the North Tama school board had another work session to discuss long-term plans for the school complex, reports the North Tama Telegraph. A “hefty packet” of information about construction possibilities and, more importantly, funding options was offered at the meeting but is not online at the time of this writing. The start of this process, or at least when I found out about it, is covered in this blog post. I’ll also be referring to a video from August.
Option A keeps the 1917 building and “expands” the elementary. If it’s the previous Option 2, it would involve closing Walnut Street. The overall plan would be a two-parter and require another bond issue no earlier than 2032. I still don’t like the idea of closing the street.
Option B razes the 1917 building and builds a new elementary across the street, but still closes the street, in fact putting the playground in that space. Option 4 from the August video showed a building going all the way west to the football field. That’s a long walk on little legs to the cafeteria.
This sentence seems ripe to scare people off: “Phase three could not begin until 2046 and would also require a bond referendum plus $6 million in cash reserves.” Why do I say that? Because for the past five and a half decades, North Tama’s record with tax increases and bond issues has been dismal. Like, usually not even a majority in favor dismal. The big win in 1996 came after back-to-back defeats in 1992 (the second attempt eked out 51.2% “yes”), and a five-year physical plant and equipment levy (PPEL) was approved in 2000. Construction in the past 20 years has relied on the one-cent sales tax and donations.
Option C would require three bond issues, with the second in 2029 and third in 2031, at the maximum property tax levy possible. Option 6 in August also razes the 1917 building but keeps Walnut Street.
Added to the plans after the December meeting, the article says, was “a two-station gym with construction costs of approximately $4.1 million.” My question: Where do you put it?? (Also, what is a “two-station gym”?)
Eventually the board has to settle on one plan, and then it’s time to sell it to the voters.