Plainview Public Schools will be hosting a series of meetings to offer the public a chance to obtain information about the upcoming possible $32.535 million bond vote in this May’s election.
The three open house-style meetings will be held:
Sunday, April 12, 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.; Plainview High School
Tuesday, April 14, 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.; Brunswick Auditorium
Sunday, April 26, 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.; Plainview High School
In the information released, the meetings will be held to “stop by, visit with experts and learn more about what’s planned for” the schools and community.
Social media indicates that those attending can learn more about:
“Financial information”: Bond market, legislation and individual tax impact
“Design/Construction”: Design, concepts, construction estimate, timeline and student involvement
“District Representatives”: Timeline and process, district needs and impact of project on education
“Voter Registration”: Important deadlines and processes “Tours”: Opportunity to tour district facilities
Also according to social media, the school is open every Sunday through election day at 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. for informal walkthroughs for the public.
Since the Bond was approved on a 4-2 vote by the Plainview Public School Board of Education in February, the school has posted 38 times to social media on various platforms with pictures, updates, flyers, postings and letters.
According to a letter to the editor this week from PHS Superintendent Dr. Darron Arlt:
“The format will be set up so that you can come and choose from a variety of information booths, get the information you desire, and depart on your own timeline. Choose any or all of the following: cost/tax impact, design/construction, educational impact, voter registration/information, guided tour. For those who cannot or choose not to come and take a tour of facilities, we are attempting to bring the tour to you through a series of pictures posted on our social media sites.”
The additions to social media have drawn some attention, with commenters posting their thoughts about the bond and the proposed upgrades to the school.
The Bond vote will be requested of voters in two separate questions:
Proposition #1 for $26,585,000, focuses mainly on the “physical plant” renovation and upgrades and new classroom space for Career and Technical Education, Special Education, two new wrestling rooms, a secured vestibule, elementary education, new vocal/instrumental, art, library and kitchen areas, updating to areas that are not handicap accessible of friendly, as well as parking and storage, restrooms and a nurse’s office, among other things.
Proposition #1 would include closing Woodland Avenue permanently between the schools, and building across the street to facilitate the new areas and renovations. The main entrance to the school would be moved to the east side of Woodland Ave. where the majority of the new parking area would be located.
As a second measure that requires a second vote, Proposition #2 proposes a $5,950,000 additional amount to add a third gym to the school, on the west side of the Woodland Ave. closure.
The extra funding has been proposed for a new gym with an 1,100-1,200 seat capacity, new FEMA-rated locker rooms, officials room, new coaches offices and equipment storage as well as a training room.
As a bit of a caveat to the voting – there are some stipulations that the bond can pass or fail under.
Proposition #1 can pass with or without Proposition #2, but Proposition #2 cannot pass without Proposition #1. The addition and renovation to the school can be approved by voters without the gym area or with it, but the gym area cannot be approved by itself.
Voters will either be approving neither Proposition, approving the Proposition #1 for $26,585,000 or approving the entire ballot for Proposition #1 and #2 and a total of $32.5 million.
The school has produced a website, www.plainviewbond.com – where voters can go to attempt to calculate the total that their tax bill will be adjusted with either both or the single bond, depending on their property value.
According to the information online, a $100,000 valued Residence will see a tax increase of around $205 annually; and a $1,000,000 agricultural property will increase by $1,736.11 per year.
There are a number of mathematical calculations that can be used to show different sides of that “math” – because of Nebraska law, LB2, which only values agricultural property at 50% of the assessed total specifically for school bonds.
That means that on a quarter of ground (160 acres) with a home – landowners could see a 100% valuation on their home, but only a 50% valuation used on their farm ground – muddying the water for an “exact” amount, which is why all of the formulas are labeled “estimates only.”
Movement against
While the Plainview Public Schools sends out information about the bond itself, there is a group “Citizens for Progress” that has begun a counter-movement against the bond issue, led by a number of local, primarily producers.
The group has sent a few flyers with questions and information about the school census, tax impact, special education and consideration against the proposed expansion.
Most of the information can be found on social media by searching Plainview Citizens for Progress.