Board reviews $18 million no-tax-rate-increase bond plan and 30¢ levy transfer to fund staff pay

District leaders reviewed proposed scope and community input for an $18 million, no‑tax‑rate‑increase bond initiative and explained a companion proposal to transfer 30¢ from debt service to the operating levy to fund compensation and staffing.

Superintendent Dr. Moss and staff described input gathered from architects (Insight), students, staff and community forums. The presentation highlighted the high school as the principal bond focus — library and front‑entry reconfiguration, added restrooms, renovation of older academic wings and an expanded, modern media center — and also showed conceptual improvements for middle‑school and elementary facilities including upgraded locker‑room and field amenities and additional all‑weather play surfaces at elementary schools.

The administration described the levy transfer plan as shifting 30¢ from the district’s debt service levy into operating funds to support certified and classified salaries and benefits. The district estimated that the 30¢ transfer would generate about $1,200,000 for those purposes. Staff also emphasized that the package is structured so the district’s overall tax rate would remain unchanged; the presentation said the tax rate would "remain the same which is 475.04" as part of the no‑tax‑rate‑increase framing. District staff cautioned voters to read the full ballot language so they understand the paired increase to operating and decrease to debt service that together keep the total rate level.

Staff described a robust outreach process: an October community forum, a March 7 day of focused stakeholder meetings with Insight architects at the middle and high schools, and hundreds of survey responses. The district also showed early renderings and interior media‑center concepts, and said architects will refine the designs based on the feedback.

Why it matters: the bond work would fund multi‑building capital improvements that administrators say are necessary to address aging infrastructure and to modernize academic and support spaces. The levy transfer would dedicate funds to compensation and retention without increasing the overall tax rate, staff said.

Next steps: staff will continue design refinement with Insight, publish FAQs and hold community meetings ahead of any ballot question. The presentation was informational; no bond vote occurred at the meeting.