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Exira referendum to decide future of district
By Carlleen Bell
NT Staff Writer
EXIRA – About 80 concerned citizens gathered Monday evening in Exira for the second of three public meetings to discuss the Bond Referendum that will be open to public vote on Nov. 7. Three presenters gave information about the condition of the current elementary building and the cost and benefits of renovating the building for continued use.
Along with representatives of tuck-pointing and electrical/plumbing companies, John Carlson of Carlson West Povondra Architects in Omaha gave a slideshow presentation about the current condition of the elementary building and the cost of renovating according to fire codes, the Americans with Disabilities Act codes, and building safety codes. These renovations would include replacing 37 doors in the building, replacing guardrails on stairs and balconies, bringing the kitchen up to fire code, installing a sprinkler system, renovating fire escapes, installing an elevator, renovating rest rooms and making them handicap accessible, installing a new ventilation system, and general renovations, including damaged woodworking and plaster. The total cost of these renovations would cost between $3.5 and $4.2 million dollars and that figure doesn’t include a new roof or potential asbestos removal.
According to Carlson, fire and ADA codes have been overlooked and not strongly enforced in the past because the building was constructed before those codes were passed. Carlson said that as the building as left as it is, many of those issues would probably still be overlooked, but as soon as the district shows a commitment to continued use of the building, the district would be forced to abide by fire and ADA codes for the building.
In addition to code renovation, the existing elementary building would need to be tuck-pointed, have the chimney repaired and potentially rebuilt, and have the roof repaired. The cost of these repairs is not included in the estimate from Carlson West Povondra.
According to Exira Superintendent Rod Montang, the vote on Nov. 7 is not to decide whether or not to keep the current elementary building. The school board has already voted to close that building in 2010 and the vote will be whether or not to build onto the current high school building. If the referendum passes, the elementary building will be closed, and an addition will be made to the current high school building to create a K-12 center. If the referendum does not pass, the elementary building will be closed and those kids will be moved to the high school building. The district would then begin looking to other districts for whole grade sharing agreements.
The referendum would generate $4.05 for the school district for every $1,000 of property tax over the next 20 years. This is the maximum amount allowed by state law. Voters will be voting on Nov. 7 whether or not the district is willing to go into debt to keep a K-12 center in Exira. The referendum must pass by 60 percent margin.
Two additional meetings have been scheduled to discuss the bond referendum. There will be a meeting at the Brayton Community Center on Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. and on Oct. 6 p.m. in Exira.
Along with representatives of tuck-pointing and electrical/plumbing companies, John Carlson of Carlson West Povondra Architects in Omaha gave a slideshow presentation about the current condition of the elementary building and the cost of renovating according to fire codes, the Americans with Disabilities Act codes, and building safety codes. These renovations would include replacing 37 doors in the building, replacing guardrails on stairs and balconies, bringing the kitchen up to fire code, installing a sprinkler system, renovating fire escapes, installing an elevator, renovating rest rooms and making them handicap accessible, installing a new ventilation system, and general renovations, including damaged woodworking and plaster. The total cost of these renovations would cost between $3.5 and $4.2 million dollars and that figure doesn’t include a new roof or potential asbestos removal.
According to Carlson, fire and ADA codes have been overlooked and not strongly enforced in the past because the building was constructed before those codes were passed. Carlson said that as the building as left as it is, many of those issues would probably still be overlooked, but as soon as the district shows a commitment to continued use of the building, the district would be forced to abide by fire and ADA codes for the building.
In addition to code renovation, the existing elementary building would need to be tuck-pointed, have the chimney repaired and potentially rebuilt, and have the roof repaired. The cost of these repairs is not included in the estimate from Carlson West Povondra.
According to Exira Superintendent Rod Montang, the vote on Nov. 7 is not to decide whether or not to keep the current elementary building. The school board has already voted to close that building in 2010 and the vote will be whether or not to build onto the current high school building. If the referendum passes, the elementary building will be closed, and an addition will be made to the current high school building to create a K-12 center. If the referendum does not pass, the elementary building will be closed and those kids will be moved to the high school building. The district would then begin looking to other districts for whole grade sharing agreements.
The referendum would generate $4.05 for the school district for every $1,000 of property tax over the next 20 years. This is the maximum amount allowed by state law. Voters will be voting on Nov. 7 whether or not the district is willing to go into debt to keep a K-12 center in Exira. The referendum must pass by 60 percent margin.
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