FAQ

1. When is the election?

The election will be held on November 7, 2023. Polls will be open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

2. Where can I vote?

Residents should check with their county auditor to identify their polling location.

3. What is being proposed?

The ADM Board of Directors is asking the community for permission to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation Bonds for the following projects that are part of ADM’s 10-year facilities plan:

• New High School: The construction of a new 1000-student high school to serve students in grades 9-12. The new high school would include an approximate 850-seat auditorium, PE practice fields, a football field, and an asphalt track.

• ADM Preschool Center: Repurposing of the DeSoto building to become an ADM Preschool Center. This project involves the demolition of the 1922 three-story portion of the building and minimal renovation.

• Updating Current Middle/High School: Update HVAC systems and renovate the fit and finish of portions of the current high school building that was constructed in 1986. The current MS/HS building on Nile Kinnick would serve students in 5th-8th grade after the completion of a new high school.

• New Outdoor Athletic Facilities: Construction of new outdoor athletic facilities at the site of the new high school. The outdoor athletic facilities would include a new stadium, baseball fields, and softball fields. 

4. What will voters see on the November 7, 2023 General Obligation Bond Election Ballot?

• Shall the ADM Board of Directors for the ADM School District be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not to exceed $58,000,000 to provide funds to construct, build, furnish, and equip a new high school building and improve the site; construct athletic complexes and sites for the new high school; renovate, remodel, repair, improve, furnish, and equip the DeSoto building, including demolition of the three-story portion of the building, and improve the site; and renovate, remodel, improve, furnish, and equip the current Middle/High School building?

5. Does the bond issue require a “supermajority” to pass?

Yes. The question on the ballot requires a 60% supermajority “YES” vote to pass.

8. Why isn’t the district completing the projects in a more condensed time frame?

The District does not have the bonding capacity and debt limit to take on all of the projects right now. The financing was designed to build projects as quickly as possible when bonding capacity and debt limit become available. It’s possible that timelines can be adjusted favorably if the District realizes better than anticipated valuation growth.

9. How do the projects on the November 7 General Obligation Bond election fit into ADM’s long-term facility plans?

ADM’s 10-year facility plan includes the four projects on the November 7, 2023 General Obligation Bond election and two additional projects that will not be funded using General Obligation Bonds. The two remaining projects in ADM’s 10-year facility plan include addressing the 1960’s wings of Adel Elementary and the construction of a new transportation center.

• Learn More: View Final Facility Master Planning Report, View Facility Assessment Report

10. How was ADM’s 10-year facility plan developed?

In response to continued enrollment growth and ongoing facility needs in the district, ADM assembled a Facility Master Planning Committee (FMP) to develop a 10-year plan to address current and future facility needs. During the 2022-23 school year, a Board-approved Facility Master Planning (FMP) Committee comprised of community members, teachers, administrators, city mayors, and board members was created to study district facility needs, provide recommendations, and develop a 10-year facilities master plan.

• Learn More: View Final Facility Master Planning Report, View Facility Assessment Report

11. What priority needs were identified by the Facility Master Planning Committee?

The Facility Master Planning Committee evaluated all needs of district facilities and identified the following priority needs that are relevant to the bond vote on November 7:

• High School Capacity: The district needs to address capacity issues at the high school due to continued and future projected enrollment growth. The high school is currently using classrooms in the middle school, a solution that blurs the lines between buildings, mixes ages of students, and is a short-term solution that will become increasingly unworkable as overall enrollment continues to increase at both buildings in the years to come.

• High School Programming: The district needs to address programming challenges at the current high school. The current high school spaces for choir and band are undersized and outdated to meet modern programming needs. The current auditorium is outdated and undersized. The current wrestling room is undersized and inadequate to meet wrestling programming needs. The current fitness spaces are undersized and inadequate to meet modern programming needs.

• 100 Year Old DeSoto Three-Story & Other Building Needs: The district needs to address the three-story portion of the DeSoto building and other spaces if the building will continue to house students in grades 5-6. The three-story space is in need of significant repairs; electrical and mechanical systems are outdated, masonry and concrete repairs are needed throughout, finishes are worn and dated, all windows need to be replaced, and all window air conditioner units need to be replaced. Additionally, the gym is undersized and does not have air conditioning and the kitchen and cafeteria spaces need to be reconfigured to adequately serve the number of students currently using the building.

12. What solutions were studied and recommended by the Facility Master Planning Committee?

The Facility Master Planning Committee developed and studied 7 scenarios, which included the construction of a new 5th-8th grade building, a new 6th-8th grade building, a new 7th-8th grade building, and a new 9th-12th grade building. Additionally, all scenarios included either the demolition, demolition and rebuilding, or the renovation of the 100-year old portion of the DeSoto three-story building.

Ultimately, the committee determined the construction of a new 9th-12th grade high school, the demolition of the three-story portion of the DeSoto Building - with the remaining portions of the building to become a Preschool Center, and updating the current MS/HS building to serve students in grades 5-8 to be the best use of district resources to meet the identified current and future needs of the district. 

• Learn More: View Seven Scenarios Studied Overview

Additionally, the committee found that the construction of a new high school would allow the district to address programming challenges at the high school, while at the same time improving programming opportunities for students in grades 5-8.  With the construction of a new high school, students in grades 5-8 would occupy the entire current MS/HS campus, providing them access to different kinds of spaces that could lead to an expansion and improvement of program offerings.

19. Why not construct a new 5-8, 6-8, or 7-8 grade building so the high school can just expand to use the entire current MS/HS building?

The Facility Master Planning Committee developed and studied 7 scenarios, which included the construction of a new 5th-8th grade building, a new 6th-8th grade building, a new 7th-8th grade building, and a new 9th-12th building. Some of the reasons identified by the committee not to construct a different grade level building included: 

• Committee Notes About the Construction of a 6th-8th or 7th-8th Grade Building: 

  • • Plans to construct a new 6th-8th or 7th-8th grade building would result in the DeSoto building still needing to serve 5th grade or 5th/6th grade students.

    • Solutions to make the DeSoto building a viable long-term facility for the district ranged from estimated costs of $8,450,000 (5th grade only) to $25,300,000 (5th and 6th grade).

    • Ultimately the committee determined that it would be more responsible to use taxpayer funds to demolish the three-story portion of the DeSoto building and renovate the remaining space to serve as preschool center at an estimated cost of $2,660,000. 

• Committee Notes About the Construction of a 5th-8th Grade Building:

  • • Plans to construct a new 5th-8th grade building would require significant renovations to occur at the current MS/HS campus in order for it to become a 9th-12th grade campus that would meet current and future programming needs.

    • There were significant challenges in renovating the current MS/HS campus to become a 9th-12th grade only campus while addressing the priority programming needs that had been identified (band and choir spaces, strength and conditioning/fitness spaces, wrestling spaces, etc.)

    • The construction of a new 5th-8th grade building would keep all high school traffic at the current MS/HS campus and add (through projected enrollment increases) to traffic and congestion concerns related to the intersection across from Fareway on Hwy 169. 

    • The construction of a new 5th-8th grade building would require the significant renovations and building improvements occurring at the current MS/HS campus to take place during the school year while students occupied the building. 

    • The construction of a new 5th-8th grade building would require significant district funds, while still requiring additional significant funds to renovate the current MS/HS campus to serve students grades 9-12. Furthermore, the current MS/HS building would still be landlocked if/when the high school outgrew the space, likely resulting in additional future district funds being needed to address this problem.

    • It was not the best use of taxpayer dollars to construct a new auditorium at the site of a new 5-8 building and not the high school - something that would impact the ability for high school teachers and students to maximize the use of the new space.

• Learn More: View Seven Scenarios Studied Overview

20. Why not construct additions at the current middle school/high school campus?

The committee determined that constructing additions at the middle school/high school campus was not a viable option due to limited space to build additions and the impact that increased building capacity would have on service areas like the cafeteria, and library, as well as traffic flow, parking, etc.

21. Where would the new high school be located?

On Tuesday, September 19, the ADM Board of Education approved a purchase agreement for the site of the proposed new high school building. The eighty-acre site is located on the south side of Adel just west of Hwy 169. View Map

• The ADM Board of Education determined this location was best suited for the new high school due to its proximity to the city of Adel, the topography of the land, and the ability to bring utilities to the site.

• The signed agreement is contingent on the fulfillment of several conditions, including the passage of the November 7, 2023 bond referendum. If the vote fails, the district will still have the option to purchase the land.

22. If the bond issue is successful, when will construction of the new high school begin?

Construction of the new high school would be targeted to begin in February of 2025 and completed by August of 2027, in time for the start of the 2027-28 school year.

23. What will happen at ADM High School if the bond does not pass?

There would be several impacts of a failed bond referendum, including:

• ADM High School would remain over desired capacity and experience a continued decrease in sq ft per student. This would result in continued overcrowding and increased class sizes.

• The district and tax payers would likely see an increase in construction costs to address the problem in the future.

• The district would likely experience a delay of other necessary district facility improvements.

24. Why is the district proposing that the DeSoto building become a new ADM Preschool Center?

The 2022-23 Facility Master Planning Committee identified addressing the 1922 three-story portion of the DeSoto building as the second highest facility priority. Additionally, the committee identified that the food service areas, gym, and music spaces in the 1990s portion of the building would need to be improved if the building were to continue to serve as a school attendance center.

The three-story portion of the DeSoto building is over 100 years old and is in need of significant repairs and updating. The building is not ADA compliant, has extensive HVAC needs, requires repair to the masonry and concrete on/around the building, has outdated mechanical and electrical systems, needs all windows and window air conditioner units replaced, and is in need of significant fit and finish updates throughout the building.

Additionally, the food service areas are significantly undersized for the number of students in the building, the gym is undersized and does not have air conditioning, and the music spaces are significantly undersized to support band, choir, and general music.

The committee studied eight options to address the identified needs, ranging in estimated costs from $2,660,000 to $25,900,000. Ultimately, the committee determined the most responsible use of taxpayer funds was to demolish the three-story portion of the building and repurpose the remaining spaces to serve as the ADM Preschool Center. This solution would allow the district to repurpose and continue to maximize use of the 1990 and 2014 portions of the building to serve preschool students. Additionally, this solution would not require funds to be used to address the undersized gym, band, choir, general music, and food service areas, as these spaces are not needed to support preschool.

25. What other options were studied to address the identified needs of the DeSoto building?

The Facility Master Planning committee studied several options to address the needs of the DeSoto building. The options ranged in costs from $2,660,000 to $25,900,000. The three options most closely studied included:

1. Renovate the Three-Story Building and Other Portions of the Building to Continue Servings Students in Grades 5-6: Estimated Cost - $25,300,000

   • This option included renovating the three-story portion of the building to make it into a usable educational space that could support the district many years into the future. Additionally, this scenario included renovations to the food service, gym, and music spaces.

2. Demolish and Rebuild The Three-Story Building and Renovate Other portions of the Building to Continue Servings Students in Grades 5-6: Estimated Cost - $19,800,00 

   • This option included demolishing the three-story portion and constructing new additions to the remaining building to make up for the lost classrooms, library, and the music classroom that would occur if the three-story was demolished. Additionally, this scenario included renovations to the food service, gym, and music spaces.

3. Demolish and Repurpose the Building for Preschool: Estimated Cost - $2,660,000

   • This option included demolishing the three-story portion of the building and repurposing the remaining quality spaces in the building to become a new ADM Preschool Center.

   • The committee believed that this option was the most responsible use of taxpayer funds to meet the long range facility needs of the district. It would allow the quality spaces of the DeSoto building to still be used to meet important needs at a significantly less cost that other options identified.

• Learn More: View Seven Scenarios Studied Overview

26. Will ADM expand preschool offerings once the new ADM Preschool Center is opened?

ADM is in the second year of participating in the free four year old state-wide voluntary preschool program. The district’s plans include an expansion of preschool sections in the coming years. The additional space at the ADM Preschool Center would allow the district to study an expansion of the current free four year old voluntary preschool sections and consider the possible addition of a three year old (tuition based) preschool program at the ADM Preschool Center.

27. Will ADM expand pre-kindergarten once the new ADM Preschool Center is opened?

The district will continue to study the implications of available space at Adel Elementary to continue to house pre-kindergarten or additional sections.

28. If the bond is successful, what is the timeline for work to begin at the DeSoto building?

Students in grades 5-6 would continue to attend DeSoto Intermediate until completion of the New High School, set to open for the 2027-28 school year. At that time, students in grades 5-6 would move to the current MS/HS Campus and use the space that had previously been occupied by the high school. It is anticipated that construction would begin during the summer of 2027. However, it is important to note that there are several variables that could either compact or extend the estimated timeline as presented.

29. If the bond is successful, when will preschool students start attending school at the DeSoto building?

It is anticipated that the demolition of the 100-year old portion of the DeSoto building and other minimal updates to prepare the space for preschool students would be completed by the start of the 2028-29 school year. However, it is important to note that there are several variables that could either compact or extend the estimated timeline as presented.

30. What will happen at the DeSoto building if the bond is unsuccessful?

There would be several impacts of a failed bond referendum, including:

• The district would continue to maintain and operate a building that is over 100 years old and in need of significant repairs.

• Students in grades 5-6 would continue to use these spaces until a solution can be identified.

• The district and tax payers would likely see an increase in construction costs to address the problem in the future.

• The district would likely experience a delay of other necessary facility improvements.

31. Why is the district proposing that the current middle school/high school building serve students in grades 5-8 after the construction of a new high school?

The Facility Master Planning Committee developed and studied 7 scenarios, which included the construction of a new 5th-8th grade building, a new 6th-8th grade building, a new 7th-8th grade building, and a new 9th-12th grade building. Additionally, all scenarios included either the demolition, demolition and rebuilding, or the renovation of the 100-year old portion of the DeSoto three-story building. 

Ultimately, the committee determined the construction of a new 9th-12th grade high school, the demolition of the three-story portion of the DeSoto Building - with the remaining portions of the building to become a Preschool Center, and updating the current MS/HS building to serve students in grades 5-8 to be the best use of district resources to meet the identified current and future needs of the district.

• Some of the reasons identified by the committee to serve students in grades 5-8 at the current MS/HS building included:

  • 1. This project provides a solution to housing 5th-6th grade students displaced by the demolition of the three-story portion of the DeSoto building and would provide improved programming opportunities for students.

    2. This solution requires minimal renovation and updating (updates to HVAC systems and some updating of fit and finish) to the current MS/HS to meet the programming needs of students in grades 5-8.

    3. This project would provide a modern learning space with capacity for ADM’s 5th-8th grade students for many years to come.

32. Where will 5th-6th grade students be located in the current middle school/high school building?

It is anticipated that 5th-6th grade students will occupy the current 9-12 portion of the building.

33. What other options were considered to maximize the use of the current middle school/high school?

• Learn More Information: View Seven Scenarios Studied Overview

34. What will happen to the current auditorium?

While it has been identified that the current auditorium is inadequate to meet modern high school programming needs, it is anticipated that the current auditorium will be adequate for students in grades 5-8 with minimal updating being required.

35. If the bond is successful, when will 5th-6th grade students start attending school at the current middle school/high school building?

It is anticipated that students in grads 5-6 will start attending school at the current middle school/high school building for the start of the 2027-28 school year.

36. If the bond is successful, when will updates begin at the current middle school/high school  building?

Students in grades 5-6 will likely start attending school at the current middle school/high school building prior to updates and renovations occurring. It is anticipated that renovations and updates to the current middle school /high school building would be completed by the start of the 2032-33 school year. However, it is important to note that there are several variables that could either compact or extend the estimated timeline as presented.

37. Why are new outdoor athletic facilities being proposed?

The Facility Master Planning Committee felt it was important to eventually bring the outdoor high school athletic facilities to the site of the new high school. However, it is anticipated that the new outdoor athletic facilities would be constructed several years after the initial construction of the high school.

• Some of reasons that the committee believed it was important to construct new outdoor athletic facilities included:

  1. • The construction of new outdoor athletic facilities would allow the district to design adequate parking and traffic flow to alleviate congestion issues currently being experienced and anticipated to increase in future years.

     • The construction of new outdoor athletic facilities would increase access to facilities to support both middle school and high school athletic events throughout the district. For example, there are currently challenges with scheduling middle school and high school track meets, a sport that impacts hundreds of students and families.

     • The construction of new outdoor athletic facilities would allow high school students to be in close proximity to the outdoor athletic facilities where they attend school, practice, etc.

38. Why not just continue to use the current stadium?

The Facility Master Planning Committee felt it was important to eventually bring the outdoor high school athletic facilities, including the stadium, to the site of the new high school. However, it is anticipated that the new stadium would not be constructed until several years after the initial construction of the high school.

• Some of the reasons that the committee believed the district should pursue a new stadium included:

  1. • The current stadium regularly exceeds capacity during home athletic events. Projected increased enrollment will cause additional capacity challenges as the district continues to grow.

     • Alternative solutions explored to increase stadium capacity included moving the home bleachers to the current visitor side of the field, where soil and topography could handle additional bleachers. However, the committee felt the most responsible long-term use of taxpayer funds was to construct a new stadium that will meet future needs, rather than retrofitting the current stadium with costly solutions that will still leave the district and community with challenges related to parking and congestion. These problems would still need to be addressed in the years to come.

39. If the bond is successful, how will the current outdoor facilities be used?

It is anticipated that the new outdoor athletic facilities would be constructed several years after the initial construction of the high school. Therefore, for the first few years, the middle school and high school would continue to share use of these spaces. However, after the construction of new outdoor athletic facilities at the site of the new high school, the middle school would continue to use the current outdoor facilities for practice and events. Additionally, it is anticipated that the construction of new outdoor facilities at the site of the new high school would increase access for community use of the current outdoor athletic facilities.

40. If the bond is successful, when would the new stadium and other outdoor athletic facilities be ready for use?

It is anticipated that the construction of a new stadium and other outdoor athletic facilities would be completed for the start of the 2032-33 school year. However, it is important to note that there are several variables that could either compact or extend the estimated timeline as presented.

41. If the bond passes, how will it impact my property taxes?

The bond for the projects associated with the November 7 vote will be assigned to ADM’s debt service levy. The debt service levy is one part of the total school tax rate, which also includes levies for ADM’s General, PPEL, and Management funds. Each of the levies independently increases or decreases annually, and when combined, form the overall school tax rate. The November 7, 2023 bond vote and associated projects will not increase ADM’s debt service levy rate.

Additionally, the ADM Board of Education has demonstrated a commitment to ensuring a stable tax rate for the community. The Board maintained this commitment during and after the construction of building additions in 2014 and 2015, as well as during and after the construction of Meadow View Elementary in 2021. The ADM Board of Education is committed to continuing to provide a stable tax rate for the community during and after the construction of the projects on the November 7 ballot.  

• Learn More: Tax Information

42. What is the Debt Service Levy and what is the impact of a successful bond to this levy?

ADM’s debt service levy is the tax levy that supports capital projects and bond repayment. This levy will continue at the same levy rate that it has been since 2018. The new projects identified in ADM’s 10-year master plan are anticipated to extend the debt payment of the District an additional 11 years (through 2051) from the current final payoff date (2040). The election on November 7 simply allows the district to use the funds generated from this levy to pay the new debt from the projects on the ballot.

43. Why isn’t the district planning to build the addition to the high school right away? Won’t costs only increase if this is delayed?

As of today, the District does not have the bonding capacity and debt limit to build the addition to the high school right away. The District will make every effort to fund projects as quickly as possible to avoid unnecessary cost increases. However, there are borrowing constraints on the District that have to be factored into the analysis.

44. What has ADM done to plan for and address continued enrollment growth?

In 2013, ADM completed an extensive facility master planning process that explored many different options for use, reconfiguration, and construction to meet demands of projected growth. More Information: 2013 Facility Options Considered

The 2013 Facility Master Planning Final Report recommended that additions be constructed at Adel Elementary, DeSoto Intermediate, ADM Middle School, and ADM High School. Additions at Adel Elementary and DeSoto were finished in 2015 and at the Middle School and High School in 2016. More Information: 2013 Facility Master Planning Final Report

In 2017, ADM closed open enrollment due to class size concerns/lack of classroom space and the anticipated rate of residential housing growth. Open enrollment remained closed but opened to additional grades at the elementary levels in the 2021-22 school year, but has remained closed at the 7-12 grade levels due to capacity limitations at the current middle school/high school.

In April of 2018, the ADM Board of Education approved the start of a Facility Master Planning process to build on the Facility Master Planning work completed in 2013 and to study enrollment growth and determine future facility needs for the district. After exploring many different options, the Committee’s final report recommended the construction of a new elementary building to serve students in grades 2-4.  Meadow View Elementary was completed for the 2021-22 school year. More Information: 2018 Facility Master Planning Final Report

In October of 2022, the ADM Board of Education approved the start of a Facility Master Planning process to build on the Facility Master Planning work completed in 2013 and 2018, and further study current facility and future needs based on enrollment projections. The recommendations of the Facility Master Planning Committee have led the board to call for the vote on November 7, 2023.

45. Has ADM closed open enrollment?

In 2017, ADM closed open enrollment due to class size concerns/lack of classroom space and the anticipated rate of residential housing growth. Open enrollment remained closed but opened to additional grades at the elementary levels in the 2021-22 school year, but has remained closed at the 7-12 grade levels due to capacity limitations at the current middle school/high school.

46. Why not use the building in Minburn that is currently unoccupied? 

Prior to the 2014 bond referendum, the 2013 Facility Master Planning Committee studied the building in Minburn and determined it not to be a practical option for growth. Reasons included:

• Most of the enrollment growth continued to occur in the Adel area. More Information: Student Density Heat Map

• The estimated costs in 2014 to renovate the Minburn building to be an attendance center exceeded $6,000,000. More Information: 2014 Analysis of Decommissioned Minburn School Building

• Even if renovated, the Minburn building would only have a capacity of approximately 200 students and would not relieve enrollment pressures throughout the district. Additional funds would have to be spent to expand the building to increase attendance capacity.

• This was not a viable option.

47. How is the Minburn building currently being used? 

ADM currently uses a portion of the Minburn building to house an indoor softball, baseball, and golf facility. The Minburn Public Library is housed in the library space of this building through a free lease agreement with the district.

48. What will happen to the building in Minburn?

The 2022-23 Facility Master Planning Committee recommended that the district should seek to separate from ownership of the Minburn Building, with the preferred sequence of options explored by the district including:

• Option 1: Seek to sell the building to the City of Minburn.

• Option 2: Seek to sell the building through auction or real-estate sale.

• Option 3: Raze the building and determine next steps for what to do with the land.

49. Why not use the “Old Middle School” building in Adel?

Prior to the 2014 bond referendum, the 2013 Facility Master Planning Committee studied the Old Middle School building and determined it not to be a practical option for growth.  Reasons included:

• The estimated costs in 2014 to renovate the Old Middle School building to serve as an attendance center exceeded $9,000,000. More Information: 2014 Analysis of Decommissioned Middle School Building

As part of the 2014 bond referendum, the building was re-purposed to serve as the new District Administration Center and was occupied in December of 2015. More Information: 2013 Facility Master Planning Final Report