PUBLIC MEETING INFORMATIONAL NIGHTS: OCT 10TH 6PM/OCT 11TH 6PM/OCT 30TH 6PM
School facilities are integrally tied to a community’s economic development and ability to stay vibrant with resident growth. The majority of our high school classroom spaces are from the year 1968. Our students deserve updated and modern classrooms along with activity spaces. As districts around us improve their facilities and our community continues to look to the future, our school facilities will play a critical role in our community’s viability.
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.
The Iowa Legislature recently passed a law that no longer allows spring referendums, districts are now only allowed the option to have school referendums once a year in November. If we didn't do a bond referendum now, we would have to wait until November of 2024 to bring this plan to our community again. This could be another year in which students don't experienxe modern facilities. This could be another year in which interest rates and material costs increase. This would also mean that this communication would have to be attempted during the 2024 presidential election.
Where do I vote?
Click to find where to vote: https://elections.franklincountyia.gov/elections/info/2023_cityschool_election_2023_11_07/
How do I vote?
Register to Vote in Iowa https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterinformation/voterregistration.html
Am I registered to Vote in Iowa? https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/regtovote/search.aspx
Where can I get an absentee ballot?
Absentee ballots can be cast in person at the county auditor's office or can be requested to be mailed to your home. All information regarding absentee balloting can be found on the Iowa Secretary of State's website.
When can you vote on an absentee ballot in-person?
Hours are Monday-Friday 8AM-4PM at the Franklin County Courthouse. People can vote in-person absentee until 4PM on November 6th.
Who can vote on the referendum?
Anyone who lives in the Hampton-Dumont Community School District, is eighteen years of age, and is registered to vote can cast a ballot on November 7th, 2023. A person that is not registered to vote can register at their polling location the same day by providing proof of age and residence.
I own property in the district but do not live in the district, can I vote in this election?
No, you must be a resident and live in the district to vote.
What is required for the referendum to pass?
General Obligation Bond referendums require 60% (super majority) of the votes cast to be “yes” for the referendum to pass. In recent years, multiple school bond referendums have been decided by less than a handful of votes. This demonstrates that everyone’s opinion and vote is important!
If the referendum election passes, when will the project be completed?
If the referendum passes, the projects are estimated to be completed Fall of 2025.
Will there going to be public meetings?
Yes, there will be public meetings to share the most up to date information about the bond referendum and the projects.
October 10th, 6:00 p.m. @ Dumont American Legion, Dumont, Iowa
October 11th, 6:00 p.m. @ Hampton-Dumont High School, Hampton, Iowa
October 30th, 6:00 p.m. @ Hampton-Dumont High School, Hampton, Iowa
Why were the public meetings set for these dates? Could they have been sooner?
Typically, these public meetings are held a few weeks before the bond vote so that people have current information and that it is current in their minds when they vote. There has been information shared on the local radio station and local newspaper over the last month to attempt to educate people in other formats. The information was made available at various school activities and open house at the beginning of the school year. There have been bond referendum presentations to local organizations in the last month. An organization is welcome to reach out to the district office and speak with Aaron Becker, Hampton-Dumont Superintendent, at 641-456-2175 if they wish to hear a presentation.
How much is the bond referendum and for what length of time will money be borrowed?
The bond referendum amount has been set at $17,000,000. The time period is 20 years.
The District cut $1.7 million out of the general fund budget last year. How are you planning to pay for new facilities?
We reduced our general fund budget by $1.7 million dollars. The general fund only impacts salaries, benefits, and curriculum budgets. The District will be using the SAVE fund ($13.5 million) which can only be used for school infrastructure. The money in the SAVE fund can never be used for general fund expenses. The District will be asking for community support through the general obligation bond ($17 million) election. If this election is successful, the dollars generated will only be able to be used for school infrastructure. It can not be used for general fund expenses.
Can a school use bond money to give teachers or staff a raise or pay employment related expenses?
Absolutely NOT. School District’s funding sources and dollars are dedicated for specific uses.Teacher salaries are paid from the District’s General Fund. Bond Referendum dollars are dedicated for infrastructure improvement only.
What happens if the construction bids for the project come back higher than expected?
The Board of Education has several options available for moving the project forward if bids come in higher than expected. The district is not allowed to bond beyond the amount approved by voters. Anyone who has ever taken on a construction project no matter how big or small knows that there are always unforseen costs. In the architecture and construction industry, these are called contingencies. A contingency budget is built into the overall budget. This means that our budget is built to be flexible to accomodate unforseen situations. Some options include the following:
Directing the design an construction teams to crticially analyze the plans to identify more economical options without sacrificing quality.
Value engineering the original plans based on priorities of the District.
How can we be sure the general obligation dollars are spent as promised?
Separate line-item accounting records must be kept for all bond related expenses to ensure the funds are being used legally and appropriately. The School District's finances are audited annually including the use of referendum funds. The referendum project expenses would be a part of the annual audit until all funds are spent.
How much do we receive annually from PPEL and SAVE?
Our annual revenue from SAVE is approximately $1,470,000 and $463,390 in Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL). These funds are used for school infrastructure, general maintenance, classroom technology, technology, and school vehicles. The revenue in these funds do not allow us to do large projects like we are proposing without the support of the community through a general obligation bond.
Does Hampton-Dumont currently have general obligation bond debt?
We currently have $1,043,055 in general obligation bond debt with the building of the Hampton-Dumont Middle School. It will be paid off in May of 2024.
Did you ask for private donations to this project?
No, our facilities committee and the Board of Education did not feel we wanted to ask for private donations for this project. Private donations would be accepted but we are not actively seeking those out from patrons. This project would be funded by district property owners and tax payers. This is a school funding format that districts have to use across the state of Iowa to be able to perform large renovations or additions to their schools. The only other funding sources for school infrastructure are the SAVE fund ($1,470,000 annually) and PPEL ($463,390 annually) funds. Those would not be enough to cover a large renovation to our schools.
Will this raise my taxes?
Yes, by attempting to raise the district levy rate to $2.70/per $1,000, it will raise them by $1.55/per$1,000 each year of the general obligation bond. See the linked tax worksheet and tax calculator to figure the rates of residential, commercial and Ag property.
How were these projects identified?
The proposed master planning projects are based on input from the district's community facility committee, administrative team, Boared of Education, and a community survey that received approximately 600 responses.
What do our current enrollment numbers say about the future of the School District?
Our enrollment trend has experienced a slight decline each of the last 5 years other than last school year. Our enrollment increased by 11 students during the 2022-23 school year. We hope to see this same increase for the 23-24 school year. Investing in our schools is one of the most important things to keep our current families attending our schools but also attracting new students too. Our projects that are planned are to renovate our current classroom spaces from the 1968 footprint at the high school. The only new classroom spaces would be the Band room near the new auditorium and the Culinary Arts room that needs more space for its program.
How will these improvements provide our students with a better education?
The businesses in the region have been seeking capable workers for their industries and have reached out to the school for assistance. By teaching students real trade skills using 21st century technology, their opportunities for employment in the region are significantly improved. AG and Industrial Arts programs can be developed with local business partnerships. Science curriculum has evolved significantly in the past 40 years with an increasing emphasis on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) curriculum. Any improvements to the school building/environment will improve learning.
Will there be more parking than before the projects began?
Parking is still under design. It will be the same or it will increase slightly.
Are there plans for a new press box at the football/soccer field?
Yes, a new press box is being planned in the general obligaton bond phase of master planning. The current press box lacks necessary space for coaches, announcers, and workers. The condition of the press box requires many safety upgrades.
Did you consider the auditorium at the middle school?
Yes, the community facilities committee went through many exercises with the Emergent Architecture to make decisions on where an auditorium would best meet the needs of the students and the community. Based on scheme exercises, the consideration of the auditorium and its long term benefits, it was decided that it would be best at the high school.
Did you consider moving the baseball and softball fields to the middle school?
Yes, the community facilities committee and architects vetted this option. In the end, the move of the fields to the east of the builidng would have cost millions of dollars to make happen. Much of the work would entail hauling loads of dirt to get a level playing field created. The overall cost of the work to relocate the fields was decided that it was better used in another project within the master planning.
Why are you considering artificial turf for the football/soccer field?
Resurfacing of the football field for quality of play and player safety. The current field does not include irrigation to support grass growth. The reality is that our players have been playing on a solid dirt field and little grass. Field use during spring soccer and fall football seasons limit ability to plant and grow grass. Turf will allow our students and programs to use the field year-round. We will also limit the amount of personnel it takes to properly care for the growing of a field and maintaining all of the lines for each sport. Our custodians and maintenance people are stretched thin the way it is and finding time to make a field looking great is a large task. Being able to maintain a grass field at the high school level is very different from a collegiate or professional level. With the many sports and multiple levels that utilize our fields, having a consistent surface is not only efficient but also provides a cost savings in the long run.
How will you handle the water drainage at the high school with the new parking lots?
This will be done utilizing an underground stormwater detention system that is regularly used in more urban areas. This system was chosen due to the constraints of the school property and to eliminate any open water detention ponds.
What does Hampton-Dumont CSD pay annually for the use of the auditorium and storage at the Church of the Living Word?
The District is currently it's last year of a five year lease with the CLW. The District pays approximately $16,000 a year. If the general obligation bond passes, we would no longer use the CLW. The District has been in communication with the CLW about any future plans. If the bond fails, the District would continue to work with CLW to extend the lease for an undetermine amount of time.