Grandview R-2 School District voters gave wholehearted approval April 4 to a $7.2 million bond to fund safety and infrastructure improvements.
The bond issue, called Proposition Safe Eagles, required a fourth-sevenths majority, or 57.14 percent to pass, and it received 352 yes votes (68.35 percent) to 163 no votes (31.65 percent).
“We are ecstatic and proud to be a part of a community that always supports our students and faculty,” Superintendent Matt Zoph said.
He said the bond issue will not increase the district’s tax levy, which is $4.677 per $100 assessed valuation. However, it will extend the district’s bond debt by approximately nine years, from 2034 to 2043.
Zoph said residents understood the district’s needs and voted to provide the funding. “I think, in our community, safety has been at the forefront for a while,” he said. “Several years ago, we did a walk-through risk assessment with the Sheriff’s Office, and they pointed out how vulnerable the students and staff in our district were. Since then, we have continually made improvements to make the campus more safe and secure. This bond issue addresses some of our most vulnerable points.”
In addition to improving safety, replacing the sewer system is a major priority, Zoph said.
He said he district has its own sewer system because it’s not tied to a city.
Zoph said he believes the sewer system was put in during the 1950s and was upgraded in the 1970s.
“We’ve done several upgrades to the system, but have reached a point that the need is beyond simply doing repairs and upgrades,” he said. “You reach a point where the cost leads you to the conclusion that replacement is needed.”
Zoph said the district will send out an RFQ (request for quote) for architects this week. “The next step is that the bonds will be offered for sale, and the board will have to have a special meeting to approve the sale of the bonds,” he said. “Therefore, we will likely be able to begin working on some projects as early as June.”
In addition to the sewer system replacement, the following projects are planned: remodeling the main entrances at the elementary, middle and high school buildings so visitors must enter school offices through a buzz-in door system, which would remove direct access into buildings; installing ballistic film (material used to strengthen windows) to first-floor windows and doors; updating district signage for safety and easier travel around campus; replacing the district’s camera system campuswide; completing a kitchen addition to the high school; upgrading asphalt around campus; purchasing new school buses; acquiring land; and completing other remodeling and repairs to existing facilities.
Zoph has said it’s especially important to fund the safety improvements. He also said adding a kitchen at Grandview High School would be a huge improvement.
“We’ve never really had a true kitchen at the high school,” he said. “It was built as a concession stand for athletics. The high school opened in 2002 and has never had a true kitchen.”