Northwest R-1 School District voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition S, a $28 million bond issue that will fund improvements around the district.
The measure needed a four-sevenths majority for approval, and it passed with 2,093 yes votes (62.9 percent) to 1,234 no votes (37.1 percent).
“We are very grateful to our community for continuing to invest in our students and in our schools,” said Northwest Superintendent Jennifer Hecktor. “The Northwest community is consistently supportive of the district and appreciative that we are united behind what is best for our students now and in the future.”
She said the district worked hard to get information about the bond issue out to voters.
“We had more than 25 community informational events, and we were able to have good conversations with our families and residents to share the facility improvement needs of the district,” Hecktor said.
The bond issue will not increase taxes, but the district’s bond debt will be extended by five years from 2038 to 2043.
Revenue from the bond issue will fund various capital improvements, many involving safety and security issues.
“The top things on our list are updating fire alarm panels, phone systems upgrades, surveillance system upgrades, intercom replacements, and then secure entry renovations to all the sites that don’t have two secure entries to get in the front door,” chief operating officer Mark Janiesch said prior to the election.
School district officials have said a lot of the construction will be focused at Valley Middle School, where restrooms will be renovated, an addition to the fine arts classroom will be built, and security gates and canopies will be installed.
However, every building will be “touched” as part of the proposed safety and security renovations, Hecktor said.
Playground equipment will be updated at all the elementary schools. In addition, plumbing renovations are planned at High Ridge Elementary, and storm drainage improvements are planned at Murphy Elementary. Brennan Woods, Cedar Springs and Maple Grove elementary schools will see improved “site circulations,” meaning construction of new driving/walking lanes and parking lots.
Plans call for an Americans With Disabilities Act-compliant lift to be built at Maple Grove.
A tricycle track will be constructed outside the Early Childhood Center, and improvements will be made to the district bus barn.
House Springs Elementary will see construction of a gymnasium addition, and Northwest High School improvements will include exterior classroom wing enclosures; a multipurpose athletics addition; and new furniture, fixtures and equipment for the multipurpose athletics addition.
According to design outlines provided by the Northwest School District, overall cost estimates for the projects range from $25,472,000 to $26,808,000. In addition, the district has allotted $1,670,000 for Paragon Architecture’s fee.
District officials are now working to firm up plans for those improvement projects.
“We are currently meeting with the teams that will help set the project schedule and solidify those plans,” Hecktor said. “We plan to keep the community informed throughout the process and are looking forward to sharing progress updates with them.