Two McLean County school districts will be asking voters to fund school improvements in the March 17 primary election.
Officials in the LeRoy and El Paso-Gridley school districts say the proposed bond sales won't raise property tax rates.
El Paso-Gridley is looking to build a new junior high in Gridley.
Superintendent Brian Kurz said if the district doesn't build a new junior high, its three-building junior high complex in Gridley will need extensive renovations. He said the campus that includes the former Gridley High School forces students in grades 5-8 to move from building to building throughout the day.
“The kids are going outside and back and forth seven, eight times a day and that’s not the best scenario,” Kurz said. “We also have parts of that campus that are over 100 years old.”
Kurz said a new school would cost up to $20 million. Renovations would cost about $8 million.
“We are giving the community the option to choose to spend the tax dollars to fix the new building or fix the old building with a 'no' vote or to invest in a new building with a 'yes' vote,” he said.
Kurz said the district plans to keep the tax rate the same, it would just extend the debt from 10 years to 20 if voters approve a new school.
LeRoy is looking to build an auditorium at its elementary school that students K-through-12 would use. That project would cost about $8.3 million.
Superintendent Gary Tipsord said the district hasn't had an auditorium since tearing down its old high school nearly two decades ago.
“At that time, the intent was to replace that space,” Tipsord said. “For one reason or another, mostly budgetary, when estimates came in to replace that space, that was one of the areas that got reduced."
The district currently uses its elementary gymnasium and high school cafetorium for assemblies and school productions.
He said the new auditorium space would allow for performing arts programs, administrative offices and a community commons area.
“If you have an affirmative vote, it basically affirms this community believes that this will increase value to our community, school and students,” Tipsord said. “If you have a negative vote to that, what does that actually communicate to us as a school district? I would say at this point in time, I’m not sure the answer to that.”
Tipsord said the school board plans to refinance $2.7 million of its current debt while extending debt payments from six to 21 years. He said that would lower the propety tax rate between $.10 to $.15.
The two referenda will appear on the March 17 ballot.
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