The Girard Board of Education on Monday outlined the scope of a proposed bond issue to fund several projects district-wide.
Superintendent of Schools Gary Snawder presented the board with two possible scenarios for the bond issue. It was time to decide how board members wished to proceed with the projects, he said, if they wanted to meet the target date of Jan. 27 to put the issue before the voters in the district.
Several things have to fall into place, including approval from the state Board of Education for the local district to exceed established debt limit caps, Snawder said.
"I don't think we can put this off," he said. "This time-line is something we have to adhere to.
"I think what you need to decide is are you going to do the whole project? Or do you want to do part of it or do it as a two-part question?"
The full project, as outlined in April by PBA Architects in Wichita, called for expansion and new construction at Haderlein Elementary to make room for all-day kindergarten classes, moving the current football field to a new stadium location and construction of new classrooms, commons area, gymnasium and other areas and extensive remodeling at the high school and middle school facility. Moving the football field and track would make way for construction of a comprehensive community center, including a swimming pool, meeting rooms and recreational facilities, open at least part of the time to the citizens of Girard.
Cost estimates for the full project, including the swimming pool and artificial turf on the new football field, were in excess of $24.4 million. A trimmed down version — keeping the field turf but eliminating the swimming pool — was estimated at slightly more than $22 million.
Taxpayers in the school district would be responsible for slightly more than half the final cost of the project. State funding would pay for 47 percent of the final cost of the project, Snawder said.
Throughout the discussion of the project, the single most talked about issue has been the swimming pool, board members said Monday. Estimated to cost about $2.4 million, the idea of a swimming pool could prove to be a deal-breaker for some voters, according to comments received and reported on by board member Tony Stonerock and others.
"I think the pool is the lightning-rod issue," Stonerock said. "I might be all wet, but if someone's on the fence, it could give them a reason to vote no.
"I think the pool is the galvanizing thing, one way or the other. My preference is I'd want the whole thing to pass."
Board member Dale Shireman agreed, saying he'd heard only negative comments on the idea.
"I've had positive comments on everything we've talked about," Shireman said. "Except for the pool.
"I've honestly not had anybody talk positively toward the pool. I feel, as Tony put it, it's a lightning rod for the bond issue."
But board members Ed Becker and Gayle Price and Superintendent Snawder said they had heard positive comments regarding the pool. Members of the local medical community, as well as citizens from varied sections of the community at large, have spoken to them in favor of the idea because of the increased health and wellness options the facility would provide.
"All-day kindergarten is a must," Jim Mengarelli said. "And all the other things need to be done, even if the time is not the best in our world right now."
What bothered Mengarelli at present, he said, was the perceived lack of input and involvement from the city of Girard and the rest of the community.
"We'd be sharing this community center with the city of Girard, but we haven't seen any of them come to support it," he said. "I'm concerned we haven't had more people step up, from the community, who are going to use this. We had some here a the first meeting we talked about this, but they haven't been back."
The bottom line, though, Snawder said, is the children and what's in the best interest of the student now and into the future.
"We've had some pretty extensive conversations, talked about what we are know for in Girard," Snawder said. "We don't have a lot of things. But what we do have — and what we're known for having — is a quality school.
"I think if we're progressive in the school, the community comes along with us. I agree, we haven't had the open support from the city commission, but I think the support is there in the community."
On a motion by Price, seconded by David Goble, the board approved presenting the issue to the voters in two parts. The first part would include everything, with the exception of the swimming pool, which would be a separate question for the voters to approve or deny apart from the bulk of the project.
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The Girard Board of Education on Monday outlined the scope of a proposed bond issue to fund several projects district-wide.
Superintendent of Schools Gary Snawder presented the board with two possible scenarios for the bond issue. It was time to decide how board members wished to proceed with the projects, he said, if they wanted to meet the target date of Jan. 27 to put the issue before the voters in the district.
Several things have to fall into place, including approval from the state Board of Education for the local district to exceed established debt limit caps, Snawder said.
"I don't think we can put this off," he said. "This time-line is something we have to adhere to.
"I think what you need to decide is are you going to do the whole project? Or do you want to do part of it or do it as a two-part question?"
The full project, as outlined in April by PBA Architects in Wichita, called for expansion and new construction at Haderlein Elementary to make room for all-day kindergarten classes, moving the current football field to a new stadium location and construction of new classrooms, commons area, gymnasium and other areas and extensive remodeling at the high school and middle school facility. Moving the football field and track would make way for construction of a comprehensive community center, including a swimming pool, meeting rooms and recreational facilities, open at least part of the time to the citizens of Girard.
Cost estimates for the full project, including the swimming pool and artificial turf on the new football field, were in excess of $24.4 million. A trimmed down version — keeping the field turf but eliminating the swimming pool — was estimated at slightly more than $22 million.
Taxpayers in the school district would be responsible for slightly more than half the final cost of the project. State funding would pay for 47 percent of the final cost of the project, Snawder said.
Throughout the discussion of the project, the single most talked about issue has been the swimming pool, board members said Monday. Estimated to cost about $2.4 million, the idea of a swimming pool could prove to be a deal-breaker for some voters, according to comments received and reported on by board member Tony Stonerock and others.
"I think the pool is the lightning-rod issue," Stonerock said. "I might be all wet, but if someone's on the fence, it could give them a reason to vote no.
"I think the pool is the galvanizing thing, one way or the other. My preference is I'd want the whole thing to pass."
Board member Dale Shireman agreed, saying he'd heard only negative comments on the idea.
"I've had positive comments on everything we've talked about," Shireman said. "Except for the pool.
"I've honestly not had anybody talk positively toward the pool. I feel, as Tony put it, it's a lightning rod for the bond issue."
But board members Ed Becker and Gayle Price and Superintendent Snawder said they had heard positive comments regarding the pool. Members of the local medical community, as well as citizens from varied sections of the community at large, have spoken to them in favor of the idea because of the increased health and wellness options the facility would provide.
"All-day kindergarten is a must," Jim Mengarelli said. "And all the other things need to be done, even if the time is not the best in our world right now."
What bothered Mengarelli at present, he said, was the perceived lack of input and involvement from the city of Girard and the rest of the community.
"We'd be sharing this community center with the city of Girard, but we haven't seen any of them come to support it," he said. "I'm concerned we haven't had more people step up, from the community, who are going to use this. We had some here a the first meeting we talked about this, but they haven't been back."
The bottom line, though, Snawder said, is the children and what's in the best interest of the student now and into the future.
"We've had some pretty extensive conversations, talked about what we are know for in Girard," Snawder said. "We don't have a lot of things. But what we do have — and what we're known for having — is a quality school.
"I think if we're progressive in the school, the community comes along with us. I agree, we haven't had the open support from the city commission, but I think the support is there in the community."
On a motion by Price, seconded by David Goble, the board approved presenting the issue to the voters in two parts. The first part would include everything, with the exception of the swimming pool, which would be a separate question for the voters to approve or deny apart from the bulk of the project.
