New London to vote Feb. 7 on $3.6M school renovation plan

By STEPH TAHTINEN

Mt. Pleasant News

NEW LONDON ? In just under two weeks, the residents of New London Community School District will be deciding whether to allow the district to bond up to $3.6 million for the Tier II Infrastructure Improvements.

?We want to encourage everyone to vote on this,? said Superintendent Chuck Reighard at an informational community meeting held on Tuesday night. Reighard encouraged the 30 to 40 people in attendance to encourage their friends and family to vote on the issue as well. ?We need 2,000 people to vote because this is too important not to vote.?

The school district has 2,000 registered voters. Reighard noted that in last year?s bond election, which was not passed, only 600 voted, meaning there were 1,400 who did not vote. Only 60 percent of those voting need to vote in approval of the issue in order for it to pass. For example, if only 10 people vote, if six of them vote yes, the bond issue passes.

The special election will be held Feb. 7 at the New London Community Hall. Polls will be open from noon to 8 p.m. The election is for a 20-year general obligation bond, which is paid for through property tax (as opposed to the current Tier I projects, which are being funded by sales tax).

Because the bonds would raise property taxes, Matt Gillaspie, vice president of Piper Jaffray and Co., the district?s financial advisor, was on hand Tuesday evening to explain the potential tax increases to those at the meeting.

The following examples use the average assessed values of properties in Henry County, which is not necessarily the average assessed value in the New London school district. Gillaspie noted that the assessed value of a property is not the same as the market value. The assessed value is determined by the county assessor, while the market value is determined by the real estate market.

For residential property with an assessed value of $87,388, the annual additional tax would be $111.37, or $9.28 per month.

For commercial property with an assessed value of $108,505, the annual additional tax is $292.96, or $24.41 per month.

For agricultural property with an assessed value of $1,100 per acre, the annual additional tax is $1.71, or $0.14 per month.

Gillaspie explained that these numbers are based on a tax levy increase of $2.70 per $1,000. However, the property valuation within the district has gone up recently, and with interest rates currently being so low, he said it was very likely the levy would be between $2.40 and $2.60 per $1,000, though he noted, ?there certainly is no guarantee.?

The Tier II projects include an addition and renovations to Clark Elementary School and renovations to the middle/high school.

?The big ticket item is the addition to Clark,? said Superintendent Chuck Reighard.

The major part of the addition is a competition-sized gym with two locker room areas and enough seating to hold a full assembly of students and staff. The current physical education space could then be converted into a media center and computer lab. The current library/media center and computer lab would then become additional classroom space.

The cafeteria would also be expanded, and there would be a circulation hallway constructed, connecting the current east-to-west hallways on the north end of Clark Elementary. Currently, to get to the northernmost classrooms in Clark Elementary, students must cut through other classrooms, disrupting classes that are in session.

Renovations are also planned in the middle/high school updating several areas.

The family and consumer science room ill be gutted and updated, keeping four kitchen stations and increasing the number of sewing tables to 16 machines, with a work table station in the center. There will also be a storage room added along with a second exit from the room, which will be required when the room is so big, explained Reighard.

Updates are also planned for the White Hall, adding water and sewer to the concession area and doubling the service space.

The media center will also be renovated, including the addition of a work room for small groups to work in teams, which Reighard noted is important to have going into the 1:1 Initiative.

?Then it becomes a 21st Century media center, which is what we?re hoping it will become,? said Reighard.

Outside of the school buildings, a parking lot servicing the new gym would be located just north of Clark Elementary, where the tennis courts currently are. There would be a six-foot fence with a gate added to the east of the parking lot.

At the football field, all of the bleachers will be brought to the west side of field. A new announcers/concession stand will be built, and there will be a four-foot security fence around the field. ­­

If the passed, work on the projects would begin in the fall.