Blair Oaks discussing options for new high school

Blair Oaks High School in Wardsville
Blair Oaks High School in Wardsville

The members of the Blair Oaks R-2 school district's Board of Education did not decide Thursday how they might want to approach putting the question of a new high school to local voters - that decision will come in August - but the board did put itself in a position to have more than one option available.

The board unanimously approved a resolution to redeem a $720,000 amount of principal of the district's outstanding general obligation bond debt.

No money has actually moved, though - what approval of the resolution means is if the board were to approve a 30-cent increase to the district's debt service levy in August, then the district could prepay the $720,000 in March 2019. This would save about $36,000 in interest payments later, compared to waiting until April to ask voters if they want to increase the debt service levy by 30 cents.

If the board went with the second option of waiting to ask voters in April 2019 about whether to raise the levy, then the resolution would be amended and the prepayment amount would be reduced from $720,000 to $440,000, Blair Oaks Superintendent Jim Jones said.

The district would have to eventually repay that money anyway, but the bonds involved aren't due to mature otherwise until 2022 and 2023.

Whether the board decides to raise the debt service levy on its own or wait and ask voters, the likely April 2019 ballot language would be roughly the same - voters would be asked to approve a $14 million bond issue to pay for the first phase of construction for a new high school.

The first phase is planned to be large enough to accommodate all the district's high school students, but it wouldn't have all the complete facilities such as a larger capacity gym that would be finished in the second phase with a later no-tax increase bond issue of a lesser amount - $4.75 million.

Board members who said they've spoken with local voters about which option they prefer - raise the debt service levy sooner, later or not at all - shared they've gotten a range of reactions.

Board member Greg Russell said he's concerned the district doesn't have enough time before the August meeting to do the kind of public outreach necessary to inform everyone of the options.

Russell was worried some people in the community would be left with the impression that the board was "going to build that high school whether we want it or not."

He added he originally was a proponent of raising the debt service levy in August.

President Peggy Luebbert said she's only heard supportive feedback of the district saving as much money as it can when it comes to building a new high school.

Jones said after the meeting he wants to organize some presentations to share information with the community.

"I'm good with all the options. I'm just glad we're talking about it," he told the board.

The other reason the board met Thursday was to finalize the 2017-18 budget with amendments. The $12.1 million total budget includes an $11.1 million operating budget.

The preliminary budget for next year was discussed at the regular board meeting earlier this month, and it will be finalized in August. The $12.3 million budget for 2018-19 includes a $12 million operating budget and proposes a $500 increase to the base of the district's salary schedule for certified staff - including teachers - which, combined with other factors, equals a salary increase of 2.75-2.94 percent compared to last year.

Classified staff would receive a 50-cent hourly raise.

Jones said the preliminary budget also funds two Parents as Teachers staff instead of the one the district currently has.