Hancock County board votes to call special election on general obligation bonds, retains advisers

Hancock County School District — The Hancock County School District board on Feb. 2 voted to adopt a resolution calling a special election on the issuance of general obligation bonds and separately approved a resolution to retain legal counsel and a municipal adviser to assist with that issuance.

The board approved the bond-resolution motion (item number 8) and the employment resolution (item number 9) in roll-call-style confirmations recorded during the meeting, with members representing Districts 1, 2, 4 and 5 indicating “Yes.” The motions were seconded and carried.

Why it matters: Superintendent Brett Wagner told the board the district faces aging facilities that need roof replacements, safety upgrades and modernized learning spaces. He said the proposed program — presented as a districtwide package of projects — is intended to address academic, arts and athletic facilities across every campus.

Wagner said the district had 3,882 students and provided campus-level special-education percentages (West Hancock 29%, South Hancock 23%, Hancock Central Elementary 24%, Hancock Middle School 19%, Hancock High School 15%, Cadiz Hancock 22%). He framed the bond plan as tied to those needs and to long-term planning for facilities and instruction.

Budget context: Wagner reported administrative costs at 3.34% of the budget and said the district spends roughly 62% of total budget dollars on instruction. He also cited operational bills at 37.14% and total bills including bonds at 45.29% (placing Hancock County among the lower half of districts statewide on several comparative metrics). "What we say we're going to do, we do," Wagner said, noting past bond-funded projects the district completed.

Public information and next steps: Wagner announced the district would launch a public website the day after the meeting to list projects, campus-level impacts and renderings as they become available. The board did not set an election date in the discussion recorded in the transcript; the resolution to "call" a special election was adopted and the district will proceed with the procedural steps outlined in the resolution.

Quotes and reaction: In a recorded video, Wagner described the planning process and said the district separated wants from needs through community and expert input. He told the board the package was designed to be responsible and that the district would emphasize transparency during community outreach.

Other business related to facilities: The meeting also included an update from the construction manager who reported limited cold-weather damage (one middle-school weight room), fencing work nearly complete at the high and middle schools and plans to extend sports-field fences from 4 to 6 feet. Board members emphasized the high school's age (about 35 years) and urged community support as planning continues.

What remains unclear from the transcript: The minutes and recorded discussion show the board adopted the resolutions and retained advisers, but the transcript does not include an election date or a detailed bond-dollar total. Those details were not specified in the portions of the meeting provided.

The board and superintendent said they would continue outreach and expects the new bond website to provide project-by-project information and renderings.