MERIDEN (KSNT) – The Jefferson West School District is asking voters to approve a $7.5 million bond issue over 10 years to address building maintenance, safety and infrastructure needs.
USD 340 Superintendent Brad Neuenswander said the proposal would fund improvements across the district’s preschool, elementary, middle and high school, as well as the vocational agriculture building. Planned work includes heating and air system upgrades, safety and security entrance improvements and other infrastructure enhancements.
“We had a study done three and a half years ago that identified over $30 million worth of needs,” Neuenswander said.
District staff previously brought two other bond proposals to voters. The first was for $21 million, while the second proposed $17.5 million.
The current proposal is for $7.5 million over 10 years. Neuenswander said a community committee helped determine the scope of work and the amount to request.
Each school board member selected someone from the community to serve on the committee. The initial group of seven members invited additional people to participate.
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Neuenswander said the committee unanimously agreed the district needed a bond to begin addressing its facility needs. The group then recommended the amount, length of the bond and projects to include. The school board adopted the recommendation as presented.
“The community has been very engaged, and they know we need to do something,” Neuenswander said. “So, it’s a start, but it’s just the start of a long journey.”
Neuenswander said the district has no existing bond debt, but deferred maintenance has reached a point where it is becoming difficult to keep up with repairs and other needs.
If the proposal does not pass, Neuenswander said the school board and community group would need to regroup and consider what to do next. He said another attempt could come in the future.
Neuenswander added that the community agrees the district needs to address its facilities, but determining the right proposal is the challenge. The bond issue is the third proposal brought to voters as the district works to address its building and infrastructure needs. You can learn more about the USD 340 bond committee by clicking here.
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