Lebanon Community SD 9 advisory committee recommends Package C after unanimous review of districtwide maintenance needs

The Lebanon Community School District facility advisory committee presented three options to the board at a work session, urging the district to address a backlog of deferred maintenance that the committee said leaves seven of 11 facilities in the “poor” range on the Facility Condition Index.

Presenter Will, speaking for the 25‑member committee, said Package A would fund critical maintenance at all sites (roofs, exterior envelope, mechanical, electrical and plumbing) and is estimated on the slides at $98,370,000. Package B would add safety, security and accessibility upgrades to Package A, and the committee’s mid‑range total was presented on the slides and in discussion as roughly $122.6 million. Package C would reallocate about $20,000,000 of work slated for Cascade and Greenacres into a plan to build a new 650‑student elementary school (presenter‑quoted cost for that new school: $79,682,000) while keeping existing schools occupied during construction.

Why it matters: the committee emphasized construction inflation and changing instructional needs as drivers narrowing the district’s options. Will said comparative figures for a similarly sized school rose from about $33.48 million in 2017 to roughly $63 million in 2022 and to a projected $79.68 million for a 2027 build—figures the committee used to argue that some renovation strategies are now more expensive than replacement.

What the committee recommended: Will said the committee’s final recommendation was a minimum of Package A but that the committee’s preferred recommendation was Package C; he told the board the committee had reached its recommendation unanimously. “The recommendation is a minimum of option A and the final recommendation is option C,” Will said during the presentation. A member who participated on the facility advisory committee described the process as an “eye opening experience,” and multiple board members voiced support for the committee’s approach.

Board discussion and next steps: board members pressed for answers on renovation vs. replacement tradeoffs, financing and community appetite for a capital bond. Will reviewed past bond history and used a $2.50 per $1,000 assessed‑value example to illustrate potential levy impacts for a roughly $100 million measure, and noted the district has refinanced prior debt several times to lower payments. He said the district plans to pursue available grant funding—citing a district estimate of $6–$10 million from an “awesome” grant for which the committee said there is a December 15 deadline to be competitive for a May election window—and that the district is also pursuing COPS grant funds and short‑term security upgrades such as electronic door controls on multiple doors at Lebanon High School.

What’s unresolved: board members said they wanted more time and community engagement before deciding whether to pursue a bond. Several members favored Package C as a longer‑term fix that avoids repeatedly “kicking the can down the road,” while others asked for additional detail and time to consult constituents. Will asked the board for direction on what additional information would be helpful and said staff and the PR firm are preparing outreach and more detailed cost breakdowns.

The meeting adjourned after board members agreed to pursue further work‑session discussion and public engagement before any formal action or bond placement.