Menu
Norgaard, Gross discuss case for school bond issue
McCOOK Neb. - As the clock ticks down to the November 5 vote on a crucial $43.5 million school bond, community members gathered Wednesday at the McCook Gazette’s Coffee Talk to engage with McCook Public Schools (MPS) administration. Superintendent Grant Norgaard underscored the urgent need for a new junior high building, rooted in years of discussions and planning that began in 2013 but intensified only recently. With engineers estimating the current junior high’s viability at just 25 more years, the conversation shifted toward sustainable educational infrastructure designed to serve the community for generations to come.
Norgaard highlighted the pressing need for a new junior high building. “We wanted to create a facility that’s going to take us 80 to 100 years into the future,” he stated, underscoring the importance of forward-looking infrastructure in education. Norgaard explained that engineers have assessed the current junior high building. He estimated its lifespan would only extend another 25 years, even with extensive renovations. The assessment raised concerns about the current structure’s viability to meet future students’ needs.
MPS Business Manager Jeff Gross added to the conversation, speaking candidly about the bond’s financial aspects. He noted that the bond’s hefty price tag was not arrived at lightly. “When we made our initial designs and started value engineering, it came back at basically $60 million,” he explained. However, after careful examination and strategic adjustments, the team reduced the project scope to $43.5 million while meeting essential educational goals.
The community engagement continued; questions collected before the Coffee Talk illuminated various concerns, especially regarding the financial implications of maintaining the existing building versus investing in new construction. Gross indicated that remodeling the junior high would cost around $30 million. However, he cautioned that a renovation would only address a few long-term issues facing the aging facility. “If we’re looking at something in those terms, that’s just a ballpark number. In 30 years, we’d be starting over,” he remarked.
Norgaard added another layer to the discussion by highlighting the potential repercussions of not pursuing a new school. He indicated that failing to invest adequately in educational infrastructure could result in the community facing the daunting prospect of running two bond issues simultaneously. This scenario could place an increased tax burden on residents and landowners. “The goal the board set forth was to work this plan out for the next 100 years, ensuring that it’s not such a huge tax burden to the community,” he said, focusing on sustainable planning.
Concerns about how the bond might impact landowners outside city limits were also raised. Norgaard addressed this by noting that only about 23% of the bond’s expenses would stem from agricultural land, reassuring attendees that the financial implications would be more manageable than they feared.
Editor Mike O’Dell of the McCook Gazette raised questions about the district’s future demographics, referencing concerns from a 2015 UNO study predicting a decrease in enrollment. Norgaard remained optimistic, asserting that the proposed plans accommodate growth and future needs. “What we’re presenting to the community is what we need,” he said.
The conversation underscored the importance of community involvement in shaping the future of McCook Public Schools. As the November 5 vote approaches, local stakeholders continue to weigh the potential impacts of the school bond on education and the community.
The McCook Gazette hosts Coffee Talk at Citta Deli on the 4th Wednesday of every month at 10 a.m. The Nov. 27 guest will be from the Nebraska Department of Transportation. There will not be a Coffee Talk in December as it lands on Christmas Day. If readers have any suggestions for future Coffee Talk guests, contact Anna LaBay at 308-345-7819 or email news@mccookgazette.com