BRETHREN — Voters in the Kaleva Norman-Dickson School District will soon decide on a $9.5 million bond proposal.
District leaders said it will not raise taxes, but it could bring big changes for students and families.
For many homeowners, the word “Bond” often raises concerns about higher taxes. The superintendent at Kaleva Norman Dickson Schools, Jake Veith, said this proposal is different.
“So right now, there’s a 1.4 mills that was approved back in 2019. And this bond would just continue that for up to an additional ten years,” said Veith. “It’s just extending the life.”
That 1.4 millage currently costs the owner of a $200,000 home about $140.00 per year.
Veith said that amount would not increase under the new plan.
“This is already part of their taxes,” he said. " They are already paying that 1.4 mills. ”
If approved, the 9.5 million dollars would fund a long list of improvements across the district. The top priority is building a new early childhood center.
Right now, preschool classes are housed in a retrofitted construction trailer from the early 2000s.
Renderings of what the new facility would look like have already been made.
Veith said it would expand access to both 3-year-old and 4-year-old preschool programs, as well as kindergarten.
There’s also potential to add a few new staff.
“There’s been a need for a 3-year-old program,” he said. “A lot of our parents would love to be able to get back to work. But the cost of childcare may possibly prevent them,” said Veith. “So a 3-year-old preschool program that is approved by the state, paid for, and funded by the state would allow us to get more families into a preschool program.”
Beyond the new early childhood center, the bond would also cover security upgrades like new or repaired fences, up to two new buses, safer parking areas, improved playgrounds, and renovations to aging facilities like student lockers and locker rooms.
Veith said if the bond doesn’t pass, much-needed improvements will be forced to wait.
“If the bond doesn’t pass, it’s back to the status quo. We will continue to provide our services and provide our 4-year-old GSP program.”
Voters can learn more about the projects at the district’s website before heading to the polls.