$22M bond issue would alter Jackson schools

Administrators have adopted a plan to improve facilities in the Jackson School District if voters pass the $22 million bond issue -- called Proposition J -- in April.

The ballot issue would not mean a tax increase. It instead would allow the school district to maintain a $0.3708 debt-service levy on personal property taxes.

Superintendent John Link said Tuesday the bond issue is needed for the school district to address current needs and ease the strain future growth likely will put on its schools.

"If it doesn't pass, we're kicking this can down the road," he said, adding doing so would be a disservice to students and teachers alike.

The project's major goals are geared toward streamlining district operations by decreasing class sizes, converting elementary schools to all serve kindergarten through fourth grades and moving the district's ninth-graders from the junior high to the high school.

West Lane Elementary

Of all the buildings to be renovated, Link said addressing the needs of West Lane Elementary was the most difficult. The issue is West Lane's honeycomb-like floor plan, said Aaron Harte of Incite Design Studios LLC in Kansas City, Missouri.

According to Harte's presentation during a recent Jackson School Board meeting, the plan for West Lane includes renovating four of the existing classrooms to then house first-graders, add four new kindergarten rooms, a room for art and music each, a conference room and a new gymnasium.

The West Lane project is expected to cost $7.4 million, but a FEMA grant for which the district has applied would reduce the cost to the district to $4.4 million.

While authorization from former governor Jay Nixon in September indicated the district would receive the funds, Link said the district expects a definitive decision in mid-March.

If that happens as the district hopes, Harte said the project can be out for bid as soon as mid-July, with a possible completion date in August 2018.

North Elementary

The work to be done on North Elementary is expected to be somewhat less expensive, with renovations planned for the restrooms, second-grade classrooms and administrative areas.

The first-grade classrooms would be expanded, and new construction would include two kindergarten rooms, three standard classrooms, two toilet rooms, two collaboration spaces, a media center and a literature library.

Harte also included an alternate option in the plan that would add a 7,400-square-foot gymnasium and storm shelter.

The project cost without the gymnasium is anticipated to be $3.55 million. The alternate option would add $1.325 million to the cost.

The project could be ready for bid by late June and complete as soon as August 2018 Harte said.

Jackson Middle School

Incite's plan would use courtyard space between two wings of the Middle School to add six classrooms, two restrooms and special-education space.

The plan also would add a literature library and 110 lockers.

Renovations would convert two classrooms to collaboration spaces and convert the band room to a multipurpose area.

The project's total cost, Harte said, would be roughly $3.3 million, with an option to add a new gymnasium for an additional $850,000. It could be finished by August 2018.

Jackson High School

Link said getting the ninth-graders into the high-school building is a priority for the district not just to save on transportation costs but to give students a four-year high-school experience like most other schools.

For that to happen, the school district has elected to tear down and replace the "Old A" building at the existing high school and erect a new facility in its place.

For math, social studies, language arts and science, the new facility would house three classrooms apiece with an additional two special-education rooms, a computer lab, foreign language classroom and art room.

The facility also would house a media center, student collaborative spaces, lockers and a food-service area.

The 48,000-square-foot building is expected to cost $10.9 million and be completed in August 2018, Harte said,

The figures, Harte said, are subject to change as the project evolves, but the board's decision about the high school marked a significant step.

Across all buildings, security features will be updated as well, Link said. Ensuring student safety, as well as shrinking class sizes, are the district's top priorities, he said.

He said the district understands sentimental attachments some in the community may have for the "Old A" building, but he said the district feels the overall project will serve Jackson students and teachers well.

"We're spending our money to utilize the spaces we have. We're trying to be as frugal with tax dollars as possible," he said. "We feel we're moving forward."

tgraef@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3627