Voters in the Hillsboro R-3 School District will be asked April 4 to approve a $12 million bond issue – “Proposition Hawks” – that aims to improve facilities and protect students, school board president Lisa Welker said.
“We’re trying to upgrade our facilities and make them safer,” she said. “We want to protect the kids as far as improving the entrances of the buildings and other security issues. We’re also trying to bring other things up to code – ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and building codes. Then, we’re trying to add some classrooms, as well.”
The ballot measure asks voters to allow the district to borrow $12 million “for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, renovating, expanding, furnishing and equipping school sites, buildings and related facilities, including the construction of special education classrooms and general education classrooms as needed, security improvements, handicap accessibility upgrades and interior renovations to existing facilities,” as well as for lease payments for district property on Hwy. A.
The measure, which will require a four-sevenths (57.14 percent) majority, would allow an extension of the current debt-service tax, but would not require a tax increase to the current district property tax levy of $4.6944 per $100 assessed valuation.
“We want people to know their taxes aren’t increasing and will just be maintained,” Welker said.
Passage of the bond issue would extend the district’s current outstanding debt levy “final maturity” from 2028 to 2037, district officials report.
Superintendent Aaron Cornman said the only decision the Board of Education has made so far as to how to use the bond issue money is for the lease payments on the Hwy. A property. The district has a wish list of possibilities for the rest of the money, he said.
The list includes adding six classrooms at Hillsboro Elementary; adding 10 classrooms at Hillsboro Junior High; adding 10 classrooms at Hillsboro Primary; providing ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) restrooms at several district buildings; providing improved security entrances at several district buildings; upgrading exterior lighting at several district buildings; and repairing parking lots throughout the district.
Cornman said every project under consideration is intended for the benefit of students.
“Everything we have put forth is needed in order to advance the education of the students of the Hillsboro School District,” he said.
R-3 last sought a tax measure in 2009, when voters approved an $18 million bond issue.