REFERENDUM 2024 RESULTS: COMMUNITY REJECTS BOND QUESTION

On Tuesday, November 5, 2024, voters in the AGWSR Community School District rejected the bond referendum question on the election ballot. Following the vote, the unofficial election results are 1131 YES (59.2%%) and 781 NO (40.8%).

Superintendent Erik Smith expressed his appreciation for the community's engagement:

"We are grateful to all community members who participated on the Community Task Force and to the voters who engaged in the bond referendum. Although the outcome wasn’t what we had hoped for, we appreciate the community’s involvement in this decision-making process. We will continue to seek solutions to support the needs of our schools and students in the best way possible."

The AGWSR Community School District remains committed to exploring avenues to address the continued needs of our school facilities.

The AGWSR Community School District calls for an election on November 5, 2024 to authorize general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $14,450,000 for facility and learning environment improvements.

TAX IMPACT?

RESOURCES & VIDEOS

WHERE DO I VOTE?

Official Ballot Question

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Shall the Board of Directors of the AGWSR Community School District in the Counties of Butler, Franklin, Grundy and Hardin, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not to exceed $14,450,000 to provide funds to remodel, repair, and improve the existing High School building, including HVAC, mechanical, electrical, and window improvements; to build, furnish and equip new bus barns; to remodel, repair, and improve the existing middle school, including tuck pointing; and site improvements at the Wellsburg Center campus, including parking lot drainage improvements?

PROJECT SUMMARY

Health & Safety

- Upgrade the 1955-1995 High School HVAC systems
- Replace the 1957 High School gymnasium HVAC system
- Abate asbestos where needed

Learning Spaces

- Renovate FACS and Science classrooms
- Repair the Middle School small gymnasium

Building Repairs

- Replace the 1976 single-pane windows at the High School
- Upgrade electrical system at the High School
- Repair exterior tuckpointing at the Middle School
- Improve the drainage system at the Middle School
- Build new Bus Barns at the Middle and High School

TOURS AND OPEN HOUSE EVENTS

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! We are excited to extend an invitation to attend a building tour and/or open house opportunity, providing valuable insights into the upcoming 2024 referendum election. These events promise an opportunity for community members to engage with district leadership and inquire about the upcoming November 5th referendum.

ATTEND A BUILDING TOUR:

Sunday, Sept. 15 // Ackley Tour // 6:00 to 7:00 P.M.
Thursday, Sept. 19 // Wellsburg Tour // 7:00 to 8:00 P.M.
Sunday, Sept. 22 // Wellsburg Tour // 7:00 to 8:00 P.M.
Tuesday, Oct. 1 // Ackley Tour // 7:00 to 8:00 P.M.

** Meeting place in the cafeteria in each facility **

ATTEND AN OPEN HOUSE:

Tuesday, Oct. 22 // AGWSR High School Gym (Ackley) // 6:30 to 7:00 P.M.
Thursday, Oct 24 // AGWSR Middle School Gym (Wellsburg) // 6:30 to 7:00 P.M.

DID YOU KNOW?

Bus Barns

The existing bus barns lack the necessary height, length, and width to accommodate newer buses. Both barns have been temporarily extended to fit longer vehicles, and in one case, a bay had to be manually dug out to make room for a bus. Additionally, the narrow bays often result in mirrors being knocked off.

The new proposed bus barns will be spacious enough to properly house the modern bus fleet for the AGWSR district.

Community Input

To guide future facility decisions that align with student needs, are fiscally responsible, and reflect community expectations, the AGWSR School Board requested that a task force of community members be formed. This group would focus on AGWSR’s facilities and provide insight and input to help guide the board's planning for the future of our schools.

In April and May 2024, the Task Force, composed of 15 volunteer community members who represented a cross section of the community, met five times, investing approximately 10 hours of their time doing the following:

Gathering community voice and input from the District community-wide survey.
Extensively touring schools in both Ackley and Wellsburg.
Examining facility engineering assessments.
Learning about Iowa school financing, the District’s current financial position, and funding options from the District’s financial consultant.
Studying district demographics and enrollment information.
Reviewing facility improvement options.

The Task Force came to a unanimous consensus on a recommended path forward, presenting it to the School Board on May 30. More info on their recommendation can be found on the FAQ page.

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HVAC Systems

As part of the proposed bond referendum projects, the outdated HVAC systems from 1955, 1957, and 1995, which have surpassed their useful lifespan, would be replaced with modern gas heating and cooling systems. Additionally, ceilings and lighting would be upgraded with energy-efficient LED fixtures. The new systems would be integrated into a centralized building control system for improved efficiency and management.

PHOTO GALLERY

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