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Wentzville R‑IV board reviews $155M–$200M bond options to fix aging schools
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Summary
District staff presented multiple bond-package scenarios ranging roughly $155 million to $200 million to renovate or rebuild aging campuses and add storm shelters; the board asked for more community input and must decide by May 26 to place language on the August ballot.
District staff on April 23 walked the Wentzville R‑IV Board of Education through a set of proposed bond packages designed to address major repairs and replacements across older district buildings, laying out options that would total roughly $155 million, $180 million, $185 million or $200 million depending on whether the board chooses renovation or rebuilding at Heritage and whether storm shelters are added.
Tim (district presenter) reviewed the district’s fund accounting and debt capacity, saying the district had identified “a large amount of facility needs” and that, with a 2025 assessed valuation of about $3.7 billion, the district’s statutory debt limit was described as roughly $558 million with outstanding debt near $231 million. “So we have the capacity to issue some more outstanding debt,” Tim said, noting legal borrowing headroom under Missouri limits.
Staff described specific campus estimates: a straight renovation of Heritage at about $50 million (with an additional roughly $30 million if a storm shelter and classroom additions are included); a rebuild option on the Heritage footprint at about $65 million; Holt renovation at about $65 million; Wentzville Bridal renovation at about $35 million; and an estimated $15 million to add a storm shelter at Wentzville Middle. Combining those pieces produced the range of package totals presented to the board.
Brian (district staff) emphasized choice and community input, saying the board could pursue different permutations and noting that cost estimates include contingencies and phasing. He warned that renovation options would likely leave some parts of Heritage unable to meet modern ADA requirements: “If you do renovation, no matter what, you’re still gonna have one area of the building that is not ADA compliant,” he said, adding that a rebuild could eliminate that condition.
Board members pressed staff on timing, energy savings and whether renovations or new construction would give longer‑term benefits. Staff said renovations could begin in parts as soon as next summer if voters approve an August measure, but full renovation or rebuild programs would take multiple summers or several years; new construction could proceed faster in some cases because it does not rely solely on summer windows.
Staff asked the board for direction but recommended further community outreach before selecting a final amount. The board was reminded that to place language on the August ballot the board must act by May 26. No final bond motion was approved at the meeting; staff and several board members signaled a preference to discuss community feedback and return with a recommendation at the next meeting.
Next steps: staff will continue outreach and refine numbers; the board must finalize ballot language and an amount by May 26 to be on the August ballot.
