Call for Bond Election on Nov. 2, 2010

The Board of Education approved the resolution calling for a bond election in the Kirkwood School District on Nov. 2, 2010, with a vote of 6-0.  In a memo to the board, Dr. Tom Williams, superintendent of schools, recommended the Board approve the resolution and the ballot language for two separate bond issues-Proposition 1 and Proposition 2-and that both documents be forwarded to the St. Louis County Board of Elections.

Together the two separate issues will provide approximately $48.3 million for renovation, construction, and improvements to Kirkwood schools at a cost of approximately 4.5 cents per hundred dollars of assessed valuation. The two ballot proposals address facility issues and are a response to the following immediate needs of the District's long-range facilities plan:

Click HERE for the Q and A.

Proposition 1:  No Tax Rate Increase Bond Issue (Approximately $33.5 million Issue)

1. The need to provide Kindergarten to all students in their home attendance area. Currently North Glendale, Robinson, and Keysor elementary buildings do not have the capacity to serve all of their students in Kindergarten. The additional classrooms will also provide more capacity for full day Kindergarten at all attendance centers.

2. The need for additional gyms/multipurpose rooms/cafeterias at North Glendale, Robinson and Keysor.

3. The need to improve security by moving the offices to centralized locations to the front of Robinson and Keysor elementary buildings.

4. The need to improve the traffic flow at Keysor, Robinson and North Glendale. This will improve safety for children by having student drop offs and pick ups on the school site and off of the street.
5. The need for new science classrooms at Nipher and North Kirkwood Middle Schools.

Proposition 2:  4.5 cent (estimated) tax increase bond issue (Approximately $14.8 million Issue)

1. The need for improvements to Lyon's Stadium by replacing home bleachers, press box, new entrance, restrooms, handicapped accessibility, fencing, sound system, etc.

2. The need for improvements to the baseball/softball fields at Kirkwood High School, restrooms, fencing, concessions, bleachers, press box, and storage.

3. The need for improvements, which may include synthetic turf, to the upper fields at Kirkwood High School for soccer, field hockey and lacrosse, & physical education.

4. The need for field improvements at both Nipher and North Kirkwood Middle Schools. This includes a new track at Nipher Middle School.

5. The need for an aquatic center at Kirkwood High School. This will provide an indoor swimming pool for physical education classes, school and club swim teams, community open swimming, and other school/community recreation needs.

Together the two issues will provide approximately $48 million for renovation, construction, and improvements to the Kirkwood School District at an additional cost of approximately 4.5 cents per hundred dollars of assessed valuation.

The bond election notice and ballot language are listed below:

OFFICIAL BALLOT
KIRKWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT R-7, ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2010

PROPOSITION 1


Shall the Board of Education of the Kirkwood School District R-7, St. Louis County, Missouri, borrow money in the amount of Thirty-three Million Five Hundred Seventy-five Thousand Dollars ($33,575,000) for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, renovating, repairing, improving, furnishing and equipping school sites, land, buildings and related facilities in the District, including (1) constructing and/or renovating classrooms to accommodate kindergarten at all five elementary schools, (2) constructing science classrooms at both middle schools, and (3) making safety improvements at District schools, and issue general obligation bonds for the payment thereof? If this Proposition 1 is approved and Proposition 2 fails, the adjusted debt service levy of the school district is estimated to remain unchanged at
the current rate of $0.365 per one hundred dollars assessed valuation of real and personal property. If this Proposition 1 and Proposition 2 are both approved, the adjusted debt service levy of the school district is estimated to increase from $0.365 to $0.41 per one hundred dollars assessed valuation of real and personal property.

YES

NO



PROPOSITION 2


Shall the Board of Education of the Kirkwood School District R-7, St. Louis County, Missouri, borrow money in the amount of Fourteen Million Eight Hundred Fortyfive Thousand Dollars ($14,845,000) for the purpose of acquiring, constructing,renovating, repairing, improving, furnishing and equipping school sites, land, buildings and related facilities in the District, including (1) renovating and improving physical education and athletic fields, the stadium, concession areas and related facilities at the high school, (2) constructing an aquatic center, and (3) renovating and improving physical education fields at both middle schools, and issue general obligation bonds for the payment thereof? If this Proposition 2 is approved and Proposition 1 fails, the adjusted debt service levy of the school district is estimated to remain unchanged at the current rate of $0.365 per one hundred dollars assessed valuation of real and personal property. If this Proposition 2 and Proposition 1 are both approved, the adjusted debt service levy of the school district is estimated to increase from $0.365 to $0.41 per one hundred dollars assessed
valuation of real and personal property.

YES

NO

To review frequently asked questions regarding the proposal, please click HERE or select "Q and A" from the menu on the left.