SIKESTON -- Presence on social media, door-to-door contact with patrons and town hall meetings are among the ways the Better Schools Make Better Communities Committee is informing Sikeston R-6 voters about the no-tax increase bond issue to construct a new Matthews Elementary School building.
"In 2014, we had a $32-million bond issue put before the voters, and they thought it was too expensive and turned it down," said Bart Grant, co-chair of the Better Schools committee. "The school board really did their homework and figured out what it was about the issue voters didn't like, and they conducted a lot surveys and asked questions."
What the board learned was voters wanted a smaller bond issue, and they didn't want to do all of the projects at once, Grant said.
As a result, the board came up with the $11-million project to fund the construction of 21 classrooms, a 5,500 square-foot multipurpose/safe room, a modern HVAC system, art room, music room, cafeteria, kitchen, three special education classrooms, ample parking, limited entry points and electrical wiring capable of supporting modern educational technology.
"This bond issue does tackle one of the elementary schools that we feel is in dire need," Grant said, adding the Lee Hunter Elementary building is about the same age as Matthews Elementary.
To fund the project, the board decided to propose an extension of its current bond issue which has a debt service tax levy of 21 cents. The tax levy is being used to pay off the debt of the Math and Science Center, which is coming to an end.
However, leaving the 21 cents in the debt service levy will generate $8 million which can only be used for building purposes.
"It's not a tax increase; it's just an extension of the current voter-approved tax levy used to build the Math and Science Center at the high school," Grant said.
In addition to the $8 million generated by the tax levy, the board decided to put in $3 million of the district's own reserves to make the $11-million project work, Grant said.
Voters will decide the measure during the April 4 election, and a four-sevenths majority, or 57 percent, is needed for approval. Formal planning would begin immediately after the bond is approved with a goal for construction to start in December 2017 or January 2018.
Sikeston R-6 Superintendent Tom Williams noted the land where the building is proposed, which is on the corner of Col. George E. Day Parkway and Brunt Boulevard, was donated by Scott Matthews in 2015 with the intention the district would build some type of new school facility there.
The decision to build Matthews or Lee Hunters was decided based on the location of where Matthews is right now," Williams said. "What it also allows us to do is if we proceed on with phase two of this (construction of a Lee Hunter building) we could potentially move Lee Hunter students into the Matthews location without disrupting the educational environment for our Lee Hunter students."
Williams said another reason some voters didn't approve the 2014 bond proposal was because it involved construction at two or three sites where students would still be in class and it would be a distraction to their normal school day.
The current proposal for April 4 ballot would eliminate concerns of construction distracting students' educational environments, the superintendent said.
Michelle Worth, co-chair of the Better Schools committee, said she's heard two other top issues from patrons: some wanting a mega elementary school and some questioning of the extension of the tax levy.
"In 2004, the district looked at elementary needs," said Sikeston R-6 Business Services Director Lori Boardman. "We had the mega elementary design and the community said: not interested; we don't want 1,500 kids on one site; the traffic queue was an issue."
The district also conducted traffic studies which determined major congestion would be an issue, Boardman said.
"The community also said neighborhood schools were very important," she said. "We're listening to the public as we've done the research over the years."
And after the 2014 bond issue, people said they did not want the big dollar amount, Boardman said.
The district's architect, Scott Fleming, said it would cost between $20 million and $22 million to construct a mega elementary center, according to Williams.
"Budget-wise, it was not an option," the superintendent said.
Grant said other patrons have asked about remodeling the buildings.
"The fact is it would cost half as much or more to redo the plumbing and electricity and that doesn't include the basics of it. In the end we would still have only 16 classrooms and outside entrance issues. It's just not a viable option,' Grant said.
Others have wondered why the high school isn't being addressed.
"Based upon the needs, the two elementary buildings ranked high on the list -- Numbers 1 and 2," Williams said. "We have pressing needs at the high school as well and in particular with C Building."
When asked about the second phase, Williams said the district is not nearly as far along with this project as it was with the 2014 project.
"And that's on purpose because we are listening to our community, and we want a buy-in and support from our people. We want input," Williams said.
The district's thought process, Williams said, is if the issue passes in April, the board will come back to the community in the fall and have a series of meetings again to develop the straw-man proposal for phase two.
Under state statute, there is a limited way for the district to build schools, Boardman noted.
"There are only certain ways for districts to get money. We're dependent upon the community to approve a tax levy for debt services that will help us to build this new school," Boardman explained.
Sales tax is not an option for the district as it doesn't have the authority to do so, Williams added.
Besides visiting the Better Schools committee's website and Facebook page, patrons can learn about the issue by attending the town hall meeting at 6 p.m. March 27 at the Sikeston Public Library.
The committee's first town hall meeting on Feb. 27 was a great success, Worth said.
"We had over 50 people there," Worth said. "We encourage people to join us on March 27 at the next town hall meeting so the committee can share more details and answer any unanswered questions."
Residents should also know that on March 25 the Better Schools committee will conduct a "neighborhood blitz," going door-to-door to explain the issue and answer any questions voters have, Worth said.
"Our goal is to make sure voters are informed about this bond proposal, and we want to make sure that we have answered all the questions that voters may have before April 4," Worth said.
For more information about the bond issue, visit Better Schools Build Better Communities' website: Better4Sikeston.com or its Facebook page: "Better4Sikeston."