Why is DC West unable to use current funds to pay for the Middle School and Auditorium proposed in the bond?

• DC West has four funds set up in accordance with school regulations – the General Fund, Depreciation Fund, QCPUF Fund, and Building Fund. Each fund is regulated by state legislation and NEW infrastructure can only be funded by the Building or Bond Funds. Currently, the Building Fund is being utilized to pay the yearly lease purchase payment for the NEW Elementary School opened in 2019. The remainder limited levy in the building fund allows for approximately $480,000 per year for other projects or as proposed could be reallocated to a bond fund to make a bond payment.

DC West was able to finance the cost of the new Elementary School without a bond election. Why can’t the school finance the proposed concept without a bond?

• In 2018, the new DC West Elementary was constructed using a lease purchase agreement with payments coming from the building fund. The school is unable to engage in another lease purchase for a construction project at this time, so we are asking our community for help. We need the supportive vote of the community to reallocate $.07 from the building and general funds to the bond fund in order to complete this project. Bond funds may only be granted with a vote of the people.

If the bond fails, will the levy be lowered?

• No. If the bond does not pass, the School Board will need to keep the levy at .95 cents to pay for portables and other maintenance projects as a short-term fix for the Middle School overpopulation. This would not be a long-term solution to the issue, nor will it address the additional facility goals met by the bond as proposed.

Why is a Performance Auditorium included in this bond?

• A Performance Auditorium will provide the School District and community with an appropriately designed space for the many programs our students are engaged in such as; Band, Choir, Theatre, Speech, Lectures, Music Programs, etc. With the increasing number of students participating in these programs, the need for performance and rehearsal space grows and the opportunity to build an auditorium has received widespread support.

How was the $16,800,000 million cost determined?

• A construction management company has determined an estimate for our conceptual design. Final designs and plans will be developed if the bond passes.

Will the middle school size be adequate for many years?

• The bond proposal concept will allow for middle school grade level classes of 60-80+. Our current enrollment in our elementary grades averages 72 students per grade level class with the exception of one class that has 46 students. We feel the proposal adequately plans for our near future enrollment in the middle school.

If the bond passes, when will construction start and what is the targeted opening date for the new facilities?

• The bond proposal is a concept drawing. DC West would be working with an architect to go through a detailed design and drawing process prior to beginning construction. Realistically, that wouldn't be done until the Fall or Winter of 2021. Construction may begin during the 2021-22 school year and would most likely take 1-2 years to complete. Some of the proposal that is renovation based would have to be completed when it is not occupied by students.

Are athletic facilities included in the bond?

• No. The district has worked with engineers on a long term concept for the updating our outdoor facilities and the district has available funds outside of the bond to complete small outside facility projects leading into the overall design over the next few years. If the bond passes, the district does plan to update the softball complex with restrooms and concessions during the construction process of the current proposal.

How is the school district levy set each year?

• The school board sets our levy each year based upon the state and federal funding we receive, the property valuation of our district, our cash reserve, and our expected expenditures. We were fortunate enough to get to lower our levy from $1.08 to .95 cents this year due to increased property valuations. Our Board has a Finance Committee that works on our budget and recommends the levy allotments to the entire Board. We publish the recommended levy, hold a public hearing, and vote as a Board to pass the Budget and Levy every September. The 16-year history of the DC West Community Schools levy is pictured below.

This proposal states there will be no levy increase, how can we believe that the school district won't have to increase the levy?

• Looking at the history of the District's valuation increases, the new property that is being built in our district, and the money coming from TIF property that continues to expire, we feel confident that our levy should not have to increase for a number of years. As the valuation in our district continues to increase, our .95 cent levy goes further. The chart below shows that one penny in 2011 generated $72,370. In 2020, one penny generated $122,709. So as our valuation grows, the levy could even decrease.