Convince Me

[D Whetstone]

SDM,

This is what happened in Jennings, KS.  The question was posed if anyone knew of buildings being used after the school left. I gave an example.  No where in my post did I say that was the plan for here. I did say that we can do this also. What I meant is that I believe we can put those buildings to use after being used as a school.

I don't think anything we say will convince you.  That is ok. I am convinced this, the bond and a centralized school, is the best for our district and communities at this time. I tend to be forward thinking and an optimist.  I love this area of our state/country. I did not grow up here. I could have gone anywhere in the US. But I didn't. I am here because of the quality of life for my family and my kids. I am determined to help us all make it the best we can.

David

[sixdogsmom]

Dave, I understand that some schools have been used for other purposes with some success. However, Moline is not a town of 150 people, we are closer to 500. We should have our own school, else accept that this town will go down the slope to oblivion. Grenola was given as an example of an old school being used for another purpose. I believe they build small aircraft parts, however that has not proven to be a boon for the town as most employees are from the surrounding areas. There haven't been a flux of families because there is no school, no bank, and no grocery store. Schooling is an extremely important part of the family structure.

I too am a person who was not reared in this part of the country. I too could have moved anywhere I wanted, but chose Moline Kansas in which to retire. I too love this area of the State/Country, but I am here because of the quality of life. I feel that I am a forward thinking person interested in the welfare of those around me. I am pretty much convinced that this bond issue is not the best for our area, nor for our children. New schools are typically built for an expanding student population, not a shrinking one. I do not think I have ever heard of that being done.

[greatguns]

Thanks for the info on the old school buildings.  There was a business came to the old Latham school building, but that didn't last to long.  When they went back to Wichita, I went with them.

[D Whetstone]

SDM,

Ok. It sounds like we have a lot in common.  But I think we will have to agree to disagree about the merits of this bond election.

David

[pepelect]

The huge metropolis of Wilson, Kansas in the north central part of the state.  Is about the size of Moline but has more Octoberfests.  Had an empty elementary school, turned it in to a assisted living facility.  It is for profit.  It is on the tax roles. It competes with an established nursing home.  Nurses quit/get fired from one and go apply to the other. 

[pepelect]

Pep says this building needs repair, all buildings need repair all the time. And it is our responsibility to plan ahead for these things, not tear down the house when it needs a new furnace, but use the funds that have been set aside for that purpose.

Where is the money going to come from to do the $500,000.00 worth of repairs at each(that means times two) that need to be done in the next 3-5years?  Where is the $1,000,000.00+ dollars of repairs that need to be done at the high school in the next 5-7years?  Remember we just dumped 2 million($2,000,000.00) on Moline and Severy grade schools in the last few years.

What programs should we start with if we don't pass this bond issue?  Could you do with out music, Football, VoAg, Art, Jr high sports, field trips, or would you like to combine grades and put 40-50 students in each classroom.

The old school building in Grenola is now a small airplane parts manufacturing building.  From what I hear it doesn't pay that well, but it is better than just letting the building rot. 

Have you checked out how little the employees at the USD282 get paid?  I am not even talking about the teachers.  I mean paras, janitors, cooks, and the highest paid is the bus drivers. The building is rotting because of the leaky roof and we need to fix it.

[pepelect]

What are we getting for our 5.5 million? Rumor has it that 1.5 million will be for the gym. Do we really need to spend 5.5 million?

The building has been designed under 30,000sq ft with a maximum cost to the district of $5.5million.  We started out with a design estimate of 18-21 million for a 75,000sq ft building.  I don't how you could have gotten a price of $1.5million for the Gym when nothing was pieced out.  The interior spaces were estimated by the square foot.  But if you are correct in you figure you would have to subtract the cost of reinforcing the struture to meet the FEMA standard that will be reimbursed at $75per sq ft.($360,000.00)

[okiemon]

What is the school districts plan for these buildings? Is it realistic to think someone will buy them when they need $500,000 of repairs? I'm concerned that they will end up like the old high school and be a tax burden to Moline and Severy.

[pepelect]

Will this issue be further discussed at future board meetings?

How long will the increase in tax last? Will the decrease in LOB be past on to the tax payers or will it go back into the school?

What are the negative impacts on Moline and Severy? ( I'd like to hear from the pro-bond people )

What will be done with the buildings at Moline and Severy? With a million dollars of deferred maintenance will you even be able to give them away?

Yes it will be discussed at the next board meeting just as it has been discussed at the last 24 board meetings.  The bond is currently proposed to be 15 years.  If  it is paid down faster than it has been amortised it then it will be less than 15 years if we  pay it slower then it will go in to default.

Moline and Severy will lose the grade schools.  Moline and Severy elementary children will have to ride the bus to school the same length of time that the Howard kids have been riding the bus to school for the past 38 years.  Families with kids will still move to the area and shop in local stores, buy feed and clothes at the feed store, call the coop to change the tractor tires, trucks will still breakdown or have flats, people will still need their picture taken, we will still need to buy insurance, the fuel tanks will still need to be filled, the crops will still need to be fertilized, someone will need to stay the night.

[pepelect]

What is the school districts plan for these buildings? Is it realistic to think someone will buy them when they need $500,000 of repairs? I'm concerned that they will end up like the old high school and be a tax burden to Moline and Severy.

How soon we forget.  That building in Howard was sold at least three time since it was a school.  It was a tax producing piece of property until recently.  I think the the actions of personal property owners are beyond the scope of the school boards control.

How can we make decide what to do with the buildings until the bond either passes or fails?  You can't sell something that is not for sale.  It can't be a tax burden until it sells so someone...It can't be sold until it is no longer used as a school. I would not want the school board telling me what do do with my property so why do you want a plan for a potential asset of Moline and Severy or even a private citizen the board doesn't not have the jurisdiction? 

I know what I would want to do with if I had the opportunity.  I would put in a health and wellness center in each of the gymnasiums and put assisted living apartments in all the class rooms.  It would be ADA accessible and fire codes would be easier with a old school than a wooden structure.

How about a lumberyard with just 2x4's and plywood?  maybe a couple of light fixtures.