No-tax-increase bond proposal

Friday, October 23, 2009

by Springfield Missouri School System

On Nov. 3, 2009, Springfield Public Schools will ask voters to approve a no-tax-increase bond issue that will leverage federal stimulus money to fund air conditioning, construction & improvements and technology.

Without increasing the current tax rate, Springfield residents can invest $50 million in our schools to create quality learning environments for all students.

To maximize resources.

Approving a bond issue in November will save Springfield taxpayers millions of dollars in interest because SPS will be able to access $5 million to $7 million in interest-free bonds available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These interest-free bonds, along with the district’s current bonding capacity and available debt-service funds, enable SPS to request a $50 million bond without having to increase the current tax.

To fulfill a promise.

With this bond issue, SPS will satisfy its pledge to air condition every school in the district. Air conditioning the remaining eight schools will complete the effort initiated a decade ago to achieve equity in the quality of learning environment available to students in every part of our community.

To invest in our community.

Quality schools create a quality community. The proposed bond projects will strengthen our community by upgrading schools in all areas of the district. This investment in our community will also create employment opportunities and generate demand for raw materials and supplies for local businesses. As intended by the stimulus package, the majority of the $50 million will be spent locally to employ contractors and laborers and purchase materials and supplies required to complete the proposed projects.

Who will benefit from improvements?

Air conditioning

Boyd, Robberson, Rountree, Sunshine and York elementary schools
Jarrett and Reed middle schools
Phelps Center for the Gifted
Tefft Center

Construction & improvements

Hillcrest High School: electrical upgrade; auditorium remodel; restroom remodel; improvements to technology infrastructure; elevator installation in gymnasium; enclosed walkway between gymnasium and main building; kitchen improvements; roof, ceiling, floor tile and hot water pipe repairs and replacements; and stadium lighting.
Westport Elementary School: A kindergarten through 8th grade campus will be developed at the current Westport site to combine the two schools. This will allow alternative programs to move to the Study building, saving more than $3 million, the cost to air condition and maintain the three buildings where they are currently housed, and creating room to serve more at-risk students.
Hickory Hills School: Construction of a new school, scheduled to be complete in December 2009, is currently being funded via lease participation certificates. A portion of this bond will provide the principal necessary to retire those lease participation certificates, saving interest and freeing up operating revenue.
Jeffries Elementary School: addition of a gymnasium with a high-school sized court. The 10,000- to 11,0000-square-foot addition will include new restrooms and a corridor to connect the gym to the school building.
Glendale High School: electrical and technology infrastructure upgrades, installation of new stadium bleachers and new stadium lighting.
Kickapoo High School: installation of new stadium lighting.

Technology

Every classroom in the district will be equipped with an LCD projector and interactive whiteboard.
Aging student computers will be replaced as needed with N-computing units, a computer processing unit which can operate multiple student workstations. This will decrease related utility, maintenance and support costs.