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$43.5 million school bond issue to voters in November
McCOOK, Neb. – A unanimous vote at the latest school board meeting means voters must make a big decision in November.
Tobin Buchanan of Northland Securities presented crucial information regarding a proposed resolution. This resolution, which calls for an election aligned with the upcoming statewide general election, is paramount. The discussion focused on the potential issuance of up to $43.5 million in general obligation bonds to finance various district projects and associated costs.
Buchanan provided insights into the bond project and emphasized the resolution’s importance, including necessary statutory language and a sample ballot.
Buchanan explained that if the resolution is approved, the district’s administration must publish election notices multiple times before the vote to ensure transparency and effective communication with the public. He stressed the necessity of a comprehensive informational campaign to educate voters about the proposed initiatives and their financial implications. This campaign will utilize various methods, including flyers, social media outreach, and community meetings, to effectively engage and inform the community.
Additionally, it was noted during the proceedings that the design team had worked diligently to refine the project within budgetary constraints while maintaining essential programming requirements for the school. Greg Wolford of W Design Associates acknowledged that after several rounds of adjustments and consultations, they are confident the project can be completed within the proposed budget without sacrificing critical educational spaces. Board members appreciated the design team’s hard work and dedication, particularly highlighting the improvements made to classroom sizes and safety features.
Superintendent Grant Norgaard said, “We’ve called it the junior high project, but it touches so many different aspects of the entire school, with the auditorium, the cafeteria, and industrial arts facilities; it’s pretty much all-encompassing.” He added that the project would impact most students, saying, “It is a senior high, junior high project, absolutely, but it goes beyond that.”
School Board member Teresa Thomas recalled the first time she was in the Junior High school building, “My daughter was a sixth grader, and my first thought was, where are the walls?” Despite her daughter now being grown, she says, “This is something that’s been very important to me. She (my daughter) is almost 25 now, but it’s still going to be great for our future kids.”
Tom Bredvick said, “We didn’t just choose the junior high school; the junior high school kind of chose us.” While others chuckled, he was not joking, bringing up the deteriorating building’s high maintenance cost.
Charlie McPherson, a School Board Member and director of the MEDC, said, “At the end of the day, the building is old and outdated. It does not have a lot of life expectancy left, and things are cheaper now than they will be 10 to 15 years down the road.”
McCook voters last approved a school bond in 2005 for the expansion of McCook Elementary. That bond will be paid off in December 2025. The McCook Junior High building was built in the 1960s.
Other items on the agenda included the presentation of a check from USTA Missouri Valley for $33,750 to help offset the costs of the recent upgrades to the High School Tennis Courts.
The board accepted with gratitude a $500 donation from Farm Credit Services for the summer food program, which provided over 39,000 meals to area children in June and July.
The board has continued to work through and update the policy package, a process that will continue throughout the school year.