Plainview Public Schools presented the latest suggested blueprint for renovations and new construction at the elementary and high school as the board prepares to make official a total cost, suggested plan and time for voting in the coming months.
According to the release – the Board is now considering a May 2026 election, most likely on the primary election ballots for the bond issue.
While the release didn’t mention an exact dollar amount, it did note that the current plan (shown nearby this story) is “$8 million lower than the initial estimate in the facility audit from April” – that cost was around $37 million, so it stands to reason that the cost would now be estimated closer to $30 million total.
The Board has received a number of estimates of cost from the bonding company in the last week, and debt service on $30 million over 20 years at 4.5% interest would require roughly the same amount as before, $2.27 million a year (down from around $2.8 million), and would include $15 million in interest before repaid.
At the school’s current levy rate, $0.526, $5.56 million in total is raised. To service the $2.27 million, in round figures, another 21 cents would be required, bringing the total tax estimate to $0.70 or so, plus any increases to the general fund or the special building fund as regular operation costs would require (News estimates in round figures, not official.)
The Board of Education has authority for up to a cap of $1.05 in general and special building fund taxes, plus the bond, if approved, on top of that.
The social media post indicates that as a possibility – as “considering some renovations outside of any bond issue” would likely come from either special building fund increases or general fund increases, either borrowed at a bank or taxed.
Previously the board had been able to borrow nearly $1 million on the “special building fund” income – which is currently capped at 14 cents without bond override. The special building fund is currently at $0.042799 cents, raising $451,828.93 in addition to the general fund.
A “capped” special building fund at 14 cents would therefore raise, in round figures, nearly $1.5 million in funds per year.
What’s New?
Major changes have now utilized the majority of the space that is “Woodland Avenue” to be closed with a lunch room, new kitchen area, commons, fitness room and gymnasium, along with some smaller additions.
The latest renovations have also combined the media centers in the high school and elementary into one facility, added a much larger English/speech area where the old media center was located in the high school, and made the special education area much larger, but all in one area as the entire west half of the older elementary expansion to the north.
The east half of the older elementary expansion would become two kindergarten and 3-year-old pre-kindergarten classrooms, and a good portion of the current lunchroom would become a 4-year-old pre-kindergarten classroom. The “Pre-K” Entrance was also added a few revisions ago, in the northeast edge of the current elementary area.
This latest iteration, from committee recommendations – has:
* moved the band and vocal rooms to nearer the Tartan Gym, now “Performing Arts gym”;
* placed the kitchen/serving and concessions area on the east side of the building near the road; created a lunch room area in addition to the “commons”;
* brought the fitness center down from the second floor to the main floor where the music rooms were located on the previous blueprint;
* added classrooms on the “second level” where the fitness room used to be, and completely removed classrooms and renovations from the southwest side of the building;
* renovated again the FCS Classroom and shop area in the southeast side, shrinking it to accommodate the new music area;
* removed renovations of the special education area in the elementary;
* added gravel parking designation to the northeast side of the school for parking;
* added an “equipment lift” behind the stage and storage area attached to the performing arts gym.
Taken from the school’s social media posting:
“Here is a schematic of the latest Plainview Public Schools facility proposal. Our community focus group has gathered for numerous meetings this fall to arrive at this plan.
While it hasn’t been endorsed by the school board yet, something close to it may be the final resolution the board puts forth to voters for a possible May 2026 election.
What you see in this plan is nearly 8 million dollars lower from the initial estimate in the facility audit from April. The committee has prioritized and re-prioritized with the board also considering some renovations outside of any bond issue.
The committee has tried to stay focused on needs and not a number. We could “chase a number” that we feel could pass, but then we might end up regretting leaving needs unmet for the next 25 years, or until a future board takes up the challenge of another multi-million dollar investment.”
There is then a listing of the current changes and renovations.
The letter ends with:
“The school board will provide an exhaustive campaign in the spring to explain the ‘why,’ ‘what,’ and ‘how’ such an investment will transform the future of our community and Plainview Public Schools.”