Central R-3 board hears more on bond issues

Central R-3 Board of Education members heard more on the April bond proposal from Superintendent Desi Mayberry at Tuesday’s regular monthly meeting.

Two bond issues will appear on the April ballot. Proposition A, a $4 million bond proposal, and proposition B, a $1.4 million bond initiative, will be used for district improvements and both would expire in 15 years if passed.

“We are experiencing continued growth in our school district,” said Superintendent Desi Mayberry. “The fact of the matter is that we’re not going to have enough space at the middle school to accommodate our classes.”

Proposition A provides funds for the construction, equipping and furnishing of a library media center, kitchen, and office complex and a secure entranceway at Central Elementary School. It would also fund the construction, equipping and furnishing of an industrial arts building and classroom addition at Central Middle School.  

“This is part of an overall plan that was developed over seven years ago. We have already completed phase one, which is the classrooms, a gymnasium, and renovating part of the building. Of course one of the most important aspects is a secure entranceway in the front of the building. Security is always a concern in the district and this would be a way to make the elementary school a secure facility,” Mayberry said.

If Proposition A passes the debt service fund levy will increase by $.14 per $100 assessed valuation. If a house has a fair market value of $100,000, the bond will result in an annual tax increase of about $26.60.

Proposition B provides funds for the site development, construction, equipping and furnishing of a new all purpose football stadium and to the extent funds are available, to complete renovation and repair improvements at Central Elementary School or the middle school.

Mayberry said the new stadium would be an asset to the district and that the new turf would reduce maintenance costs and injuries.

If Proposition B passes, the debt service fund levy will increase by $.03 per 100 thousand dollars of assessed valuation. If a house has a fair market value of $100,000, the bond will result in an annual tax increase of about $5.70.

Board members gave their approval for the application of a 75-25 percent vocational enhancement grant. The district could receive $25,983. Their district’s portion would be $6,814.

Administrators also asked the board to consider the districts E-rate funding. That funding is administered through the Federal Communications Commission and comes from a fee charged to telecommunications users to provide affordable telecommunications and wireless access.

The costs for those services to the district, including student content control are $89,651. E-rate funding, at 80 percent of the cost would cover $71,720 of that amount. The district will also apply for E-rate priority funding after the federal government allocated more than $2 billion this year.

Mac’s Lawn service will provide lawn maintenance for the district for the next year.

Officials say the weather has “played havoc” with the school calendar and approved a change to strike some balance between the third and fourth quarter. As there only 37 days left in this quarter, March 14 will now be a full day. Parent-teacher conferences scheduled that afternoon will take place March 21, and that day will be a half day.

Student of the month for February is Melanie Kamin.

Under consent agenda items, the board approved appointing Chad Bradley as district safety coordinator and Tammy Wadlow as non-discrimination laws compliance coordinator and liaison to the division of family services. Members also approved an assistant elementary school principal job description and substitute teachers.

” width=”800″ /> Central R-3 Superintendent Desi Mayberry presents details on two upcoming bond issues to board of education members at the Tuesday regular meeting.

Pat Pratt is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-518-3616 or ppratt@dailyjournalonline.com