Dexter Schools Ask for YOUR Vote on April 2nd K.I.D.S. Bond Issue

Dexter, Missouri -  The second of two public meetings were held on Monday evening to explain the new bond proposal.  Unfortunately both meetings were not attended well by the community as a whole, but there is great support among the teachers and school staff who came to the meeting.  Perhaps people have already decided to vote YES and that will be a good thing for Dexter Schools, teachers and students.  We hope so!

Let's explain this Bond Issue!!

A bond measure to borrow money for improvement projects districtwide.  OK so then what?

HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST?

Proposition 2 (or Proposition K.I.D.S.) would be for a $15 million bond. District officials have said this could generate up to $15.7 million in cash for the projects.

The district also anticipates providing another $2.5 million to the project from other funding sources, which could include cash reserves.

The $15 million bond would be paid for through an extension of the current 80-cent debt service levy, if approved April 2 by voters.  There will be no decrease in tax if the bond fails the votes needed.  The current tax will continue.

The current debt service is expected to be repaid in eight years. With the addition of the new bond project, repayment would extend approximately 20 years.

The additional $2.5 million could be covered through a lease purchase. Payments on the lease purchase would be about $100,000 per year until 2024. The district’s classroom trust fund income would be used to make the payments.

The new bond issue would be used to repay the $2.5 million, with the remainder going to other projects. This option would require another vote of the public on a bond issue. 

Addition of six classrooms. Four classrooms for preschool to serve 4, 5-year-old students.

Added access to One Mile Road for safer pickup and drop-off of students.  Yes a new road for people to leave the school.  If you have ever been to the school right before and after school you would see the need is great!

Building a new gymnasium and two classrooms for art and music.  Right now the gym is used for lunch as well so students have to give up PE time and either have it in a classroom or in the hallway.  Anytime there is an event in the gym on stage they have to move PE to another location.

Expansion of the kitchen and cafeteria will also provide new rooms for music, choir and band.  They have truly outgrown their music/choir and band rooms to the point it is almost impossible to get everyone in the room at the same time.

More parking and new drainage flow in front of the school will make it for safer and quicker pickup and drop-off of students. Have you ever been to a basketball or volleyball game at night?  Parking is practically non-existent having to park on the road or at the high school.  Young student shave to cross a busy street if they park with their parents at the high school and walk over.

Upgrading the Ag building to include new welding stations and added 2,800 square feet of space.

Facelift to entire building with new doors and windows.

Auditorium facelift will see new lights and sound systems as well as new seats and ADA-compliant seating.

New lobby and cafeteria expansion will bring the West Lobby a new, modern look and give students much-needed space.

Modify existing facilities to create secure, one-point entry systems with state-of-the-art fob-entry keyless systems.

Roof replacements over much of the campus.

Replace the six-lane track with MSHSAA-regulated eight-lane track and lower football bleacher replacement.  At the current time the district is unable to host a home track meet for middle school or high school athletes.  They have to travel.

New ADA-compliant restrooms and concession stand at the stadium. A new two-story building would feature locker rooms in the lower level and a concession area in the top.

New junior high and high school football locker rooms, along with storage for tennis, track and football.

New synthetic football turf.

With the exception of the Southwest construction and gym addition at Central, everything would be completed before the beginning of next school year, AUGUST 2019!!