Dear Central
Families,
Tomorrow
residents of Central will be asked whether or not to support a $6 million
dollar bond referendum to address facility concerns in regards to our K-12
building. The Central School Board has hosted numerous public forums to
seek community feedback as they explored solutions to a building that has 22
different levels in 3 stories and sections of the building approaching 100
years old. A 40 member Facilities Committee was formed in June and worked
to develop a plan at the lowest possible cost while still addressing all the
compliance/code issues facing our K-12 building. From the Facilities Committee
a Citizen's for Central Committee was formed and they worked incredibly hard to
ensure voters had the appropriate information to make an educated decision when
they go to the polls. Tomorrow's election will mark the end of a two-year
process!
The changes
proposed through this remodel will make our K-12 building 100% accessible for
not only our students but also all taxpayers who frequently use our
facilities. The proposed changes will also add much needed security for
our students and staff. An additional +4000 square feet of academic space
will be added through the proposed remodel to better serve our students.
These changes along with new mechanical will set Central's K-12 building well
into the foreseeable future.
Central
Community School District is in the bottom 20% of school district tax rates in
the State of Iowa. If this vote passes, our tax rate will still be below
the State average and lower than most of our neighboring school
districts. The additional tax rate will mean a $5.87 monthly increase to
the average residential property owner in the Central School District. I
encourage all voters to contact the Assessor's Office and determine your tax
impact before you vote, my guess you may be surprised at how little this will
cost you-- I know I was!
Every
strong community has a strong school district. We are proud of the fact
that Central ranks among the best both academically and financially. We
are proud of our incredibly low dropout rate and incredibly high participation
rates in fine arts and sports. Because of these accomplishments I am
asking that each of you get out and vote tomorrow. If you have not been
able to attend a tour of our building, please contact me before you vote and I
will be happy to give you one. If you are not registered to vote or
unsure where to go, contact the school at 245-1751 and someone will help
you. This vote is that important!
As always,
thank you for the ongoing support you give our students and staff at
Central. We are great because of you!
Sincerely,
Nick
Trenkamp, Superintendent & Elementary Principal
