DEXTER — The last of Amanda Long’s three children graduated from Dexter R-XI in 2014. She attended a public meeting Monday on a proposed $15 million bond measure as a community member and business owner.
Long wanted to understand the ballot measure that goes before voters April 2, and be able to explain it to others.
“I’ve had a few people ask me, what are they going to end up doing or getting rid of if they run out of money,” she said at the close of the meeting at the high school auditorium. “But it looks like nothing will.”
Set to make district-wide improvements, the list of projects would come in at about $18.2 million by the time all funding sources are combined.
Those projects could add close to 50,000 square feet of new classroom and multipurpose space through work at the Central and Southwest elementary schools, the middle school, the high school and the football field.
“I’m always going to vote pro-school,” Long added. “You just have to invest in your schools. It’s just important as a community to support your local schools.”
This was the second of two public meetings held this month by the district to explain the proposal. Both saw low attendance from community members, but support from those attending, as well as teachers and other school staff who participated.
Among the significant changes for Dexter schools would be the addition of a pre-school program at Southwest through construction of four new classrooms.
Dexter may be the only district in Stoddard County that does not yet offer preschool, said Superintendent C.A. Counts.
Additions at Southwest and Central would also offer the potential for nine classrooms per grade, part of the district’s planning for growth.
The vo-ag building and its industrial arts programs will also receive a facelift, he said.
“Our whole idea here is to provide kids with everything they need to be productive in the workforce,” Counts said. “We want to bring in the skills and get them used to all the updated equipment, to where they can graduate in any one of these programs and go straight out into the community and be a valuable resource for our businesses.”
At the middle school, renovations would allow for the better use of space for band, choir and the cafeteria.
The band room would go from 1,346 square feet, for classes of up to 65 students, to 2,500 square feet. Choir is currently serving 78 students in less than 800 square feet, and could move into the old band area, Counts said.
Some of the most significant improvements will be seen at the Charles Bland Stadium. In addition to a new concession stand and field house, a synthetic turf field and new track will be added and drainage improvements made.
The synthetic turf will cost an additional $75,000-$100,000, but provides several benefits, Counts said. Dirt removed during the addition of the turf will be used as fill to resolve drainage issues.
Over the 12-15-year lifespan, the district will also see significant cost savings in the area of maintenance, he said. They spend as much as $20,000 annually to maintain the natural grass field, and about 150 man hours from district workers.
WHAT IS IT?
A bond measure to borrow money for improvement projects districtwide.
HOW MUCH IS IT?
Proposition 2 (or Proposition K.I.D.S.) would be for a $15 million bond. District officials have said this could generate up to $15.7 million in cash for the projects.
The district also anticipates providing another $2.5 million to the project from other funding sources, which could include cash reserves.
HOW WILL IT BE PAID FOR?
The $15 million bond would be paid for through an extension of the current 80-cent debt service levy, if approved April 2 by voters.
The current debt service is expected to be repaid in eight years. With the addition of the new bond project, repayment would extend approximately 20 years.
The additional $2.5 million could be covered through a lease purchase. Payments on the lease purchase would be about $100,000 per year until 2024. The district’s classroom trust fund income would be used to make the payments.
In 2024, the district could ask the public for another extension of the 80-cent debt service. This could generate about $7 million.
The new bond issue would be used to repay the $2.5 million, with the remainder going to other projects. This option would require another vote of the public on a bond issue. If the 2024 bond issue failed, the district would be required to pay the full $2.5 million from its cash reserves.
WHAT DOES IT PAY FOR?
Southwest Elementary
• Addition of six classrooms. Four classrooms for preschool to serve 4, 5-year-old students.
• Added access to One Mile Road for safer pickup and drop-off of students.
Central Elementary
• Building a new gymnasium and two classrooms for art and music.
T.S. Hill M.S.
• Expansion of the kitchen and cafeteria will also provide new rooms for music, choir and band.
• More parking and new drainage flow in front of the school will make it for safer and quicker pickup and drop-off of students.
High school
• Upgrading the Ag building to include new welding stations and added 2,800 square feet of space.
• Facelift to entire building with new doors and windows.
• Auditorium facelift will see new lights and sound systems as well as new seats and ADA-compliant seating.
• New lobby and cafeteria expansion will bring the West Lobby a new, modern look and give students much-needed space.
Security
• Modify existing facilities to create secure, one-point entry systems with state-of-the-art fob-entry keyless systems.
District-wide Improvements
• Roof replacements over much of the campus.
• Replace the six-lane track with MSHSAA-regulated eight-lane track and lower football bleacher replacement.
• New ADA-compliant restrooms and concession stand at the stadium. A new two-story building would feature locker rooms in the lower level and a concession area in the top.
• New junior high and high school football locker rooms, along with storage for tennis, track and football.
• New synthetic football turf.
WHEN WILL IT BE DONE?
With the exception of the Southwest construction and gym addition at Central, everything would be completed before the beginning of next school year, administrators have said.
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