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WUSD pushes for bond:
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| Project manager Tim O'Malley answers questions during the three-hour meeting. (Ainslee Wittig/ARN) |
Meeting attendees voice opinions on proposed district bond projects
By Ainslee S. Wittig/Arizona Range News
A three-hour public informational meeting Thursday on the Willcox School District's proposed $15 million bond drew fewer than 30 people, not counting WUSD administration, staff or school board members.
Willcox Superintendent Dr. Richard Rundhaug explained issues surrounding the bond in a PowerPoint presentation to start the meeting, including the difference between bonds and budget overrides.
"A bond is in effect for up to 20 years, whereas a budget override can last up to seven years. Bonds are used for major purchases such as buses, land, renovations, and construction, but cannot be used for salaries, benefits, and supplies. Overrides are used for salaries, benefits and student activities," he said.
"Willcox receives the fewest dollars per district in Cochise County, but our override gives us the ability to deliver the high quality programs such as strings and sports that we have for our students," he said.
The district's high school and elementary school buildings were constructed in 1953 with bond money. The district's most recent bond was in 1992, which was to purchase heaters and improve roofs, he said.
"With a slight dip in our secondary tax rate, the proposed bond would cost $5 per month for a family with a home assessed at $100,000; and for the average household (in the district), it would cost $7 per month," Rundhaug told the audience.
A list of all proposed improvements/construction was given to attendees and a DVD presentation showed the state of the district's facilities.
All schools have cracking sidewalks and parking lots, and the bathrooms need renovations. The elementary school office's roof leaks, and there is a need for a gym/community building where all students can gather together.
At the high school, the boys' gym showers leak into the girls' locker room below it. A sump pump is required to get water out of the girls' locker room area when it rains. Concrete is breaking in Room 302. A new roof is needed in the high school auditorium. And the lights on the football field need to be replaced, as the lumens are not where they should be for Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) standards.
"We could have our football field shut down by AIA, which would mean no home games, and that would essentially kill our athletics program," he said.
District Business Manager Jim Foley said, "The state has reduced the soft capital budget and the building renewal funds (the state used to give) are gone too. Federal ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds) have been used but not for infrastructure or building, We just don't have the state and federal funding to do the things we need to get the facilities beyond the minimum standard. We cannot do this without the bond."
Terrie Lownds, who has two children in high school, said, "You're asking me to pay more money on my mortgage. We don't have the tax base other towns have to support this. Three marquees at $37,500 each are not really necessary. I want my kids to get a good education. It doesn't need to be pretty."
Foley responded, "We're not really dealing with pretty here. We are dealing with foundations and roof leaks that could lead to building failure. If that happens, the county would force a tax onto property owners," and the cost of repairs would be greater in the emergency situation.
Tim O'Malley, who helps mostly rural school districts with construction projects and is overseeing the bond project for Willcox Schools, said that essential projects would all be done before consideration of a marquee.
Steve Denny asked how many students are in track that we would want to spend nearly $500,000 on a new track, and only $120,000 on science labs.
Rundhaug said track is the second most populated sport with about 30 participants, but that middle school track, all PE classes and community members also use the track, which currently may not be used for AIA competition because of its condition.
He said remodeling the two science labs would get them "close to being competitive labs" (compared to other schools).
Phil Hogue said the district ought to make air conditioning a priority, as the swamp coolers do not work well in August.
"The $37,500 for each of the marquees should go to something more important - the library is treated like the red-headed stepchild," Hogue said.
While Hogue said books for the library could be purchased, O'Malley said anything purchased from bond funds "has to be nailed to the floor."
O'Malley said his experience from another district shows, "We could purchase AC units, but the electric bill would be up by $150,000 and there's $60,000 in repairs. We'd be pressed to do that in the current economic situation."
Hogue suggested moving the school's start date back to September, when it is cooler with less moisture.
"Make the kids a priority and the bond may be easier to sell to us," he said. "Maybe making a committee of five people (including an administrator and a teacher along with the community members) to oversee how the money is spent gives the community more input."
"We have that committee with us - it's the School Board. They are the community members you have elected to represent us," said Cathy Collins, adding they have already spent a long time looking at the facilities to see what is needed.
School Board member Carl Hestand said, "We didn't make the decision to recommend the election lightly. I encourage people to call their school board members. It would be irresponsible for us not to authorize this election because of what could happen five years down the road."
Rundhaug added, "You will see a lot more community involvement, especially during the architectural process."
Kees Rodenberg asked about using local sub-contractors for the work that is done with the bond.
O'Malley said, "We try very hard, in rural areas especially, to use local people. We have hand-walked them through the job in Safford in order to do that. That's very important to me."
John Cropper, who has no kids in school, said, "I will object to spending money I don't have. I'm not going to go for it unless you show me it's valuable for the education of the students. It's the high school where I have the objections ($1.8 million for the football field and $899,000 for the new offices/entry to high school). If I'm not convinced, I ain't voting for it."
Rundhaug explained that the current office situation in the high school makes if very difficult to do business in the offices.
"People are walking through and it's very crowded - it's impractical," he said.
Julie Payne said, "If you don't have a good school facility, people don't move in. We need people to support businesses; and businesses to support the school. Our business owners will kill themselves to support the school, but this is too big for community support. Our facilities are falling apart - kids from other schools would rather go home dirty than shower here after a game. I'm getting frustrated because we're missing the boat here."
She added, "If you don't start with education, you don't build your community."
'
By Ainslee S. Wittig/Arizona Range News
A three-hour public informational meeting Thursday on the Willcox School District's proposed $15 million bond drew fewer than 30 people, not counting WUSD administration, staff or school board members.
Willcox Superintendent Dr. Richard Rundhaug explained issues surrounding the bond in a PowerPoint presentation to start the meeting, including the difference between bonds and budget overrides.
"A bond is in effect for up to 20 years, whereas a budget override can last up to seven years. Bonds are used for major purchases such as buses, land, renovations, and construction, but cannot be used for salaries, benefits, and supplies. Overrides are used for salaries, benefits and student activities," he said.
"Willcox receives the fewest dollars per district in Cochise County, but our override gives us the ability to deliver the high quality programs such as strings and sports that we have for our students," he said.
The district's high school and elementary school buildings were constructed in 1953 with bond money. The district's most recent bond was in 1992, which was to purchase heaters and improve roofs, he said.
"With a slight dip in our secondary tax rate, the proposed bond would cost $5 per month for a family with a home assessed at $100,000; and for the average household (in the district), it would cost $7 per month," Rundhaug told the audience.
A list of all proposed improvements/construction was given to attendees and a DVD presentation showed the state of the district's facilities.
All schools have cracking sidewalks and parking lots, and the bathrooms need renovations. The elementary school office's roof leaks, and there is a need for a gym/community building where all students can gather together.
At the high school, the boys' gym showers leak into the girls' locker room below it. A sump pump is required to get water out of the girls' locker room area when it rains. Concrete is breaking in Room 302. A new roof is needed in the high school auditorium. And the lights on the football field need to be replaced, as the lumens are not where they should be for Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) standards.
"We could have our football field shut down by AIA, which would mean no home games, and that would essentially kill our athletics program," he said.
District Business Manager Jim Foley said, "The state has reduced the soft capital budget and the building renewal funds (the state used to give) are gone too. Federal ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds) have been used but not for infrastructure or building, We just don't have the state and federal funding to do the things we need to get the facilities beyond the minimum standard. We cannot do this without the bond."
Terrie Lownds, who has two children in high school, said, "You're asking me to pay more money on my mortgage. We don't have the tax base other towns have to support this. Three marquees at $37,500 each are not really necessary. I want my kids to get a good education. It doesn't need to be pretty."
Foley responded, "We're not really dealing with pretty here. We are dealing with foundations and roof leaks that could lead to building failure. If that happens, the county would force a tax onto property owners," and the cost of repairs would be greater in the emergency situation.
Tim O'Malley, who helps mostly rural school districts with construction projects and is overseeing the bond project for Willcox Schools, said that essential projects would all be done before consideration of a marquee.
Steve Denny asked how many students are in track that we would want to spend nearly $500,000 on a new track, and only $120,000 on science labs.
Rundhaug said track is the second most populated sport with about 30 participants, but that middle school track, all PE classes and community members also use the track, which currently may not be used for AIA competition because of its condition.
He said remodeling the two science labs would get them "close to being competitive labs" (compared to other schools).
Phil Hogue said the district ought to make air conditioning a priority, as the swamp coolers do not work well in August.
"The $37,500 for each of the marquees should go to something more important - the library is treated like the red-headed stepchild," Hogue said.
While Hogue said books for the library could be purchased, O'Malley said anything purchased from bond funds "has to be nailed to the floor."
O'Malley said his experience from another district shows, "We could purchase AC units, but the electric bill would be up by $150,000 and there's $60,000 in repairs. We'd be pressed to do that in the current economic situation."
Hogue suggested moving the school's start date back to September, when it is cooler with less moisture.
"Make the kids a priority and the bond may be easier to sell to us," he said. "Maybe making a committee of five people (including an administrator and a teacher along with the community members) to oversee how the money is spent gives the community more input."
"We have that committee with us - it's the School Board. They are the community members you have elected to represent us," said Cathy Collins, adding they have already spent a long time looking at the facilities to see what is needed.
School Board member Carl Hestand said, "We didn't make the decision to recommend the election lightly. I encourage people to call their school board members. It would be irresponsible for us not to authorize this election because of what could happen five years down the road."
Rundhaug added, "You will see a lot more community involvement, especially during the architectural process."
Kees Rodenberg asked about using local sub-contractors for the work that is done with the bond.
O'Malley said, "We try very hard, in rural areas especially, to use local people. We have hand-walked them through the job in Safford in order to do that. That's very important to me."
John Cropper, who has no kids in school, said, "I will object to spending money I don't have. I'm not going to go for it unless you show me it's valuable for the education of the students. It's the high school where I have the objections ($1.8 million for the football field and $899,000 for the new offices/entry to high school). If I'm not convinced, I ain't voting for it."
Rundhaug explained that the current office situation in the high school makes if very difficult to do business in the offices.
"People are walking through and it's very crowded - it's impractical," he said.
Julie Payne said, "If you don't have a good school facility, people don't move in. We need people to support businesses; and businesses to support the school. Our business owners will kill themselves to support the school, but this is too big for community support. Our facilities are falling apart - kids from other schools would rather go home dirty than shower here after a game. I'm getting frustrated because we're missing the boat here."
She added, "If you don't start with education, you don't build your community."
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