Dear Parents/Guardians and Community Members:
On January 13, 2020 the Ballard R-2 School Board of Education voted to place a no tax increase bond issue on the April 7, 2020 ballot (which is now the June 2, 2020 ballot). Our district has the opportunity to pursue this bond issue based on our current assessed valuation and our work to maintain a fiscally conservative and responsible focus with district funding.
We originally had an informational meeting set in March but due the Covid 19 outbreak we had to cancel all school related gatherings. The information that follows explains the bond issue as well as the projects that we plan to complete.
The language for the bond issue will read as follows:
Shall Ballard R-II School District of Bates County, Missouri issue its general obligation bonds in the amount of $500,000 for the purpose of constructing, improving, repairing, renovating, furnishing and equipping school facilities, including HVAC in the gymnasium and classrooms, energy efficient improvements in the older portion of the building, retiling older elementary classrooms and hallways, construction of north sidewalk and awning over north entrance, new roof over gym and other projects as needed?
Will this bond issue increase patron’s taxes?
If this question is approved, the District’s debt service property tax levy is estimated to remain unchanged at $0.75 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation of real and personal property.
What projects will be completed if the bond issue passes? We have numerous projects we would like to complete. Listed below are a few of the projects.
In the oldest portion of our school building we have some projects that need to be addressed. Some of these are retiling the current 5th and 6th grade rooms, Special Services room, and the Computer Lab, as well as the hallway outside of these classrooms. Also the windows and lighting in the 5th and 6th grade rooms need to be renovated so they will be more energy efficient. The windows are also a security/safety issue.
Another project is the roof over the gymnasium. There are many leaks in the roof being that it has been there since the early 80’s.
We would also like to construct a sidewalk along the north entrance parking lot as well as add an awning over the current sidewalk that leads up to the building.
Some of you may have noticed we have put AC and heat in the gymnasium so therefore we would use the continued debt service to pay for this.
Technology is another issue we will address. Technology is an ever growing demand for school districts and society alike. In order for the students to have access to quality internet we will need to do some upgrades in the technology area.
There are a few other projects that could be addressed as well. We would like to make sure that our students are in an environment that is conducive to learning as well as providing them a safe learning environment.
If you have any questions regarding the no tax increase bond issue, please feel free to contact the school at 816-297-2656.
Respectfully
John Siebeneck Superintendent Ballard R-2 School District
