DEARBORN, Mo. — After the overwhelming response to the April 4 election, the North Platte Board of Education is ready to move forward on construction plans for the whole district.
In last week’s regular meeting, officials expressed appreciation for the voters, who passed a no tax increase measure earlier in the month. Out of the 634 total votes cast during the election, the bond question passed with 513 yes to just 121 no votes. The measure required 4/7 majority to pass (57 percent) and received more than 80 percent support from the district patrons.
“We want to thank our voters in this district for supporting the ballot measure,” North Platte superintendent Karl Matt said during the Tuesday, April 18 meeting. “We’re excited to get started, and we’re going to work with Incite Design Studio and Universal Construction to bring a great school for our students to go to.”
Contract negotiations are currently underway with Universal Construction based out of Lenexa, Kan. — the same company that constructed the district’s intermediate school in Edgerton.
The board is also still weighing the options on the schedule for the upcoming replacement of the junior high school in Dearborn and roofing projects across the district.
There are two options to be considered, according to Matt. Option one would require temporary classrooms after the demolition of the current junior high, but the project could be completed faster. The second option would be a phased project that would take longer but not require the temporary classrooms.
“We are leaning towards one phase now,” Matt said. “I think there is a strong chance that we can get it done in one phase and hopefully have everything ready to go by the fall of 2018.”
Matt said demolition of the junior high, which is connected to the current high school and is actually the original high school building, could start this summer with the footings and foundation going down as early as the fall.
In order to accommodate the students while the junior high is being constructed, temporary classrooms will be setup in the parking lot while other trailers are being donated by Pro Container to store items.
A few roof repair or replacement projects are also being planned for the high school over the kitchen and common area as well, as over the shop. Portions of the elementary school roof will be repaired, along with repairs to the foundation.
Other projects listed on an informational brochure include high school roof repair/replacement ($375,000 estimate) and repairs/renovations and upgrades of the high school/junior high campus. In addition, the elementary school would receive foundation work, roof repairs/replacements and other renovations.
Both the high school and elementary school, located in Camden Point, Mo., would have HVAC upgrades.
Total cost of the projects is estimated at $6.65 million with the current tax rate expected to generate about $6.2 million over 12 years to go with close to another half million from a Missouri Department of Energy grant.
The district currently has a 99-cent levy in their debt services fund that is being used to pay off the projects that were voter approved in the fall of 2009, including the new North Platte Intermediate School. The current projects are expected to be paid for in full by 2025.