FAQ:

The district proposes to construct a new building to serve grades 7 and 8 that will be located on district property north of the high school. The initial student capacity is projected to house up to 600 students, we anticipate the building opening in the fall of 2022 with 450 students. The building's proximity to the high school will allow easier student academic accelerations and will minimize costs by sharing staff and services.

The district continues to grow by roughly 100 students each year. The middle school and Anderson Elementary are currently at or above capacity. Current enrollment in the elementary grades justifies the need for additional classrooms. In 2019 the district hired RSP and Associates to project district enrollment for the next 10 years. Their data predicts continued growth of 120 students per year. Over the last 5-years, the accuracy of our district’s data has been above 96%.

The district works hard to accommodate increasing enrollment while balancing project needs and funding limitations. To assist in the planning process and to better predict future needs, the district partners with RSP & Associates to conduct enrollment studies. The data provided gives the district a strong 10-year snapshot as to future enrollment, school utilization, and the timing of needed construction projects.

• To learn more about the master facilities planning process, click here.

The district did not have the legal authority or borrowing capacity to do so. A school district is allowed to have up to 5% of its total assessed valuation (properties) in debt.

The district continues to grow at a significant rate in both residential and commercial value. This means many more property owners are contributing tax dollars compared to just five years ago. During the past five years, the district has grown by over 500 residential homes and the district has also seen a large number of significant commercial projects. In this example, 500 homes at an average valuation of $280,000 equates to an additional $140 million in residential valuation.

With our rapid growth and limited funding, a six-year solution is reasonable. If we had greater borrowing capacity we would propose additional projects or solutions, however districts by law have a debt limit of up to 5% of their total assessed valuation (properties). We are student rich but considered property-poor despite our significant residential / commercial growth. This will shift to be more commercially weighted versus residential, just not soon enough for the construction of the proposed new school. The Amazon building is a key example of this shift. We anticipate additional commercial projects in the I-80 corridor, which will be helpful.

The total estimated cost for the new building is approximately $33,000,000, and an approved bond referendum would fund up to $23,000,000 of the total project cost.

The district would utilize revenue from Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) the statewide penny sales tax (SAVE) to fund the remaining $10,000,000.

*In addition to the bond referendum, the September 8, 2020 ballot will include a public measure regarding the district’s revenue purpose statement. Click here for more information.

In addition to the bond referendum, voters will also be asked to consider the approval of an updated Revenue Purpose Statement (RPS) which outlines how the district utilizes Secure an Advanced Vision of Education (SAVE) funds. More commonly referred to as the penny sales tax, SAVE funds are utilized by districts to specifically support school infrastructure and technology needs. If voters approve the RPS, Bondurant-Farrar will continue to be able to spend SAVE funds as Iowa law allows for the duration of the penny sales tax. Click here for more information.

It would cause a number of challenges.

• There would be significant crowding at Anderson and the middle school. Both buildings are at or above ideal capacity.

• It would increase class sizes due to the lack of rooms.

• Portable classrooms may need to be utilized.

• It would increase the total cost to taxpayers due to the delay in the project as construction costs have typically risen each year.

• We will need to build additional facilities regardless; therefore, we would attempt to pass the bond one year later which is the earliest allowed by law.

It is always important to vote in order to express your opinion. Taxes have a circle of life. At another time in your life, others were likely paying taxes to fund your education, as you might now pay taxes to fund the education of students today.