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Check out the bond issue proposal

By DAVID ALLEN SEATON
Traveler Staff Writer

John Sturd, member of a citizens' committee pushing a $35.8 million school bond, says that the more he explains it, the more people seem to support it.

After hearing his pitch, some doubters "have done a 180 and say, 'I can support that,'" Sturd said.

Sturd and Sharon Ellis, another committee member, participated in a news conference Friday at the USD 470 district office.

Voters will receive ballots in the mail starting mid-February. They must return the ballots by noon March 4, when the votes will be counted.

"Word is starting to get out, and people are saying 'hey, I'd like more information," Sturd said.

Committee members studied the needs of district facilities starting in 2006 and won unanimous school board approval last year.

They are making presentations to clubs and civic organizations. They plan to place newspaper advertisements soon and hold two or three public hearings. Brochures are being handed out, including at local sporting events.

The question people will be asked is this: Shall USD 470 issue $35,836,790 in general obligation bonds to provide funding for the shown projects.

The bond payment period would be 20 years. At least half of the total will be paid for by the state. The bond market is good right now, with 4.25 to 4.5 percent interest rates, said Ron Ballard, schools superintendent.

The district is paying about $900,000 a year for another eight-and-half years on a construction bond issue from 1996, school officials said.

The proposed bond issue would cost the owner of a $100,000 house about $70 in property taxes per year.

If approved, construction on the various projects would take about three years, Ballard said.

Those projects include expanding and renovating five elementary schools and completely rebuilding a sixth, IXL.

The middle school would be renovated, including new heating and air conditioning, new restrooms, and a new entrance.

The high school would see updated hearing and air conditioning, an expanded industrial tech building, a new main entry to the south, an expanded auditorium with restrooms, an expanded commons, a new enclosed walkway to the tech building, and music practice rooms.

A new sports complex for football, soccer, track and public use would be built west of the high school.

Mary Govert, a senior attending the conference for the Arklight school newspaper, said the improvements are needed for a variety of reasons.

Better facilities make a better learning environment, she said. Updated space for music, drama and athletics could spur more interest in activities.The temperature in the school is never right.

"You're either sweating or you're bundled up," she said. High school students can probably hack it, but young children shouldn't have to, she said. "It makes it tough to learn when you're bundled up."

The elementary schools also desperately need new utilities, Ballard said. The older elementary schools such as Jefferson and Adams "are eating us alive in utility costs."

The expansions will allow for more all-day kindergarten programs, which could become a state requirement soon if lawmakers mandate it, Ballard said.

Safety is a big part of the upgrades, he added, only the high school meets current federal standards for tornado protection.

Ballard said that the bond issue creates a plan and would be cheaper than updating and expanding the buildings piecemeal, which will have to happen anyway.

The school district and the committee are trying to educate voters, and to clear up any misinformation. By law, district officials cannot advocate for or against the measure.

Ballard said the phone calls he's received are split - for and against. Most people want more information. Some people have asked why the schools want a $38 million sports complex, he said, pointing out that only $5.3 million of the total is going to sports.

Still, the athletic improvements are important, he added.

"We have the worst (athletic) facilities in the our league. Period," Ballard said.

Some people also think the high school is new because it's referred to as "the new high school," he said. "It's 25 years old."

Sturd said students deserve better learning facilities. But image is also involved. The town suffers when visitors come to Curry Field and watch a football game in a cramped, dilapidated space with poor restroom facilities.

"What kind of image does that present for our community?" he said. "I don't think it's a very good one."

For more details on the improvements, see the district's presentation at the data center on: arkcity.net.

Call Sturd at (620) 741-3005 to set up a presentation.

Above: Citizen committee members John Sturd and Sharon Ellis listen to Arkansas City Superintendent of Schools Ron Ballard discuss bond issue proposal information. Also attending the meeting are ACHS Arklight newspaper photographer Dange Sanders and editor Mary Govert.