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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5B - Feb 14 Bond ReferendumSTAFF AGENDA REPORT AGENDA #: PREPARED BY: SUBJECT: DATE: FRANK BOYLES, CITY MANAG PRESENTATION BY DR. SONNABEND, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOL DISTRICT 719, REGARDING THE UPCOMING SCHOOL BOND REFERENDUM AND RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FEBRUARY 6, 1995 BACKGROUND: DISCUSSION: RECOMMENDATION: ACTION REQUIRED: Dr. Les Sonnabend has requested ten minutes on the City Council's February 6 agenda to discuss the upcoming referendum. On Tuesday, February 14 voters in the Prior Lake Savage School District will have the opportunity to vote once again on a $20.2 million dollar bond referendum. The purpose of the bond is to build new schools, repair existing buildings and acquire land in an effort to prepare for the school district's growth. Dr. Sonnabend will review the reasons for the referendum, its cost to taxpayers, and respond to any questions the Council may have. Dr. Sonnabend has historically requested city support for these efforts. A resolution is attached which supports a strong school district. Motion and second to adopt the resolution. AGN5B.WRT -1- 16200 Eagle Creek Ave., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER RESOLUTION 95- A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE PRIOR LAKE/SAVAGE SCHOOL DISTRICT MOTION BY: SECONDED BY: WHEREAS, WHEREAS, WHEREAS, WHEREAS, WHEREAS, strong effective schools are an essential precondition to a strong society: and effective school districts are equally dependent upon an aggressive education oriented administration and teacher corps, coupled with facilities and equipment which are conducive to education; and the explosive growth is now taking place and expected to continue over the next several years within the school district; and growth will increase the demand for additional buildings and the necessity to have the land available for expansion; and such construction projects, land acquisition and building improvements cannot be funded through the existing budget. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA, that it does support the efforts of the Prior Lake/Savage School District to maintain high quality education for our youth and facilities and equipment which are conducive to learning. Passed and adopted this 6th day of February, 1995. YES NO Andren Andren Greenfield Greenfield Kedrowski Kedrowski Scott Scott Schenck Schenck {Seal} Frank Boyles City Manager City of Prior Lake 16200 Eagle Creek Ave., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447.4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER le BOND ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS (Ten Points To Ponder) .. a~ L STUDENTS WILL BENEFIT: Not only are we building new schools but we are improving and protecting [he investment in our three oldest buildings. Every student in our district will benefit from this project in one way or another. e 3. GOOD PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT: The district administration and school board have exhibited good planning and management by making it through some very lean times. WPJ~ the passage of the referendum, in the fall of 1993, we were able to reduce class size and add back programs that were cut previously. In addition, we have set aside money, in that referendum, to open a new elementary building, when it is built. We have delivered on our promises. NO MORE BOND OR REFERENDA ELFCTIONS FOR 3 TO S YEARS,,: The passage oft his bond issue should last a minimum of 3 years and up to 5 or 6 years, depending upon our ~irowth. This projects growth at approximately 200 students per year. If we grow 400 or 500 students per year, then this will shorten the time that this space will be adequate. THE SPACE PROBt__;M WILL NOT GO AWAY: Our space situation is similar to a person who is hungry and gets tumed down to receive a meal. That person is still going to be hungry the next day and will still need to be fed. If the bond issue is not passed on February 14th, we will have to continue to ask our community to approve this until it gets accomplished. WE HAVE MET AND PLANNED WITH THE CITY AND THI=. COUNTY: Many people have asked us to do better planning with the city and county on taxes and bond issues. We have done so in the past and will continue to do so in the future. We are in a pedod, throughout our area, where we are experiencing rapid growth and rapid demand for improvements in all kinds of infrastructure. This puts a great demand on all governmental agencies to keep up with this demand. TAXES HAVE RISEN SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE PAST 2 YEARS: This is a fact and we are not disputing nor down playing that. However, the cost of this bond i~ue has many be,,efits for many different constituencies. First and foremost, it meets the needs of the youngest in our community. Moreover, it protects the investment of the homeowner because our community will have a reputation of support for its public schools and people will be attracted to our community to purchase homes at a premium, when they are for sale. Additionally, the yearly cost of this issue will continue to decrease as we have more tax base in our community. Not only will we have significant home building but the city has unveiled plans for areas of commercial and other development. 7.. WHAT IS INCLUDED? There are 5 parts to this bond issue: A. A new elementary school to be built in the northeast comer of our district, near 135th Street and Allen Blvd. (see attached plan) B. An addition at Hidden Oaks Middle School to relieve secondary overcrowding (see attached plan) C. Minor additions and major upgrades for our 3 buildings that are 20 or more years old (see attached plan) D. Money to purchase property to build future buildings ($850,000) E. Money to purchase technology equipment to be able to stay up-to-date and offer our students a good education ($sso,ooo) WHAT IF THE BOND ISSUE DOES NOT PASS? We have already said that we will continue to ask our communities to pass this because the growth will not stop. When the Highway 18 bridge opens, it will make our communities much more attractive to people who are building new homes and commuting into the Twin City area. However, if it does not pass before the overcrowding is upon us, the only viable option to house students is split shifts. This would involve some combination of grades 5-12 who would share buildings. This could mean that a group of students would start school as eady as 6:00 or 6:30 AM and be done at noon and another group of students would come in at noon and be done at 6:00 PM. There are no other short term, viable options that make fiscal or educational sense. . WHY THE URGENCY? The bond issue cannot pass one day and the space will be available the next day. It takes approximately 2 years from the start of planning through being able to occupy a new space. The earliest we could hope to occupy an addition to Hidden Oaks Middle School would be the fall of 1996. The earliest that we could hope to occupy a new elementary school would be the fall of 1997. The reason for this is that the new elementary school will be K-6 and we have said that we will re-arrange WestWood and Five Hawks to be K-4's and keep Grainwood at 5-6. A major change like this cannot be accomplished in the middle of the school year. Thus, the earliest that we could realistically occupy a new elementary space is the fall of 1997. During this interim period, we could grow 300 to 500 more students. 10. HOW CAN I HELP? Last September there were many people who said they were supportive of the issue but were unable to get to the polls to vote. You can encourage your acquaintances and neighbors to get to the polls and vote to solve this cla$_~-$room shortage problem for the benefit of all of the students in our school district. We need youl SOME COMMENTS FROM PRIOR LAKE - SAVAGE REALTORS 'Your best protection of maintaining property, value is a good school sy.~em." "If you are concemed about a property tax increase of $100 or so, you should think about the negative dollar Impact of 1-2% depreciation on the value of your home (e.g. $110,000 x 1% = $1,100). Even if you are not planning on selling your home, your value can be affected if homes in the area are not selling in a normal market time." 'One of the first questions a person looking for homes asks us is 'how are your schools?' An affirmative answer of 'good, progressive schools' usually means they will then consider our area. Our schools have to be as good as or better than other communities or they will look elsewhere." 'Ask a local realtor/model home representative how often they have had to defend the local school district. Buyers have certain standards and one they will not compromise on is a good school district, whether or not they have school-age children.' 'Y°u~e always heard location, location, location. A big part of location is what school district surrounds that home." 'The bond issue cannot pass one day and the space be available the next."