Officials eye smaller bond issue for school repairs

Repairs and improvements to Lawrence schools can be done in a six-year period without a high-dollar bond issue, Lawrence Supt. Randy Weseman told school board members.

“We may be fudging a little on the time frame, but we’re pretty confident we can do it,” Weseman said during the board’s annual retreat Friday morning at the district’s headquarters.

A mix of budgeted dollars, a relatively small bond issue and private dollars could get the projects done, Weseman said, noting an overall cost of about $90 million. But he emphasized that none of the scheduled improvements were set in stone.

And he said any large-ticket items, such as building additions, probably would be attached to a bond issue.

“We need to develop a strategy over a period of time addressing existing education needs, and we need to do it in a way that does not put an undue burden on our taxpayers,” he said.

Board members on Friday discussed what to include in a bond issue and how to present it to the public. They will begin discussing a formal proposal during upcoming board meetings.

Because voters rejected a $59 million bond issue in April 2003, board members made it clear they wanted to put together a proposal that voters would support.

“I don’t think we can say what a bond issue would entail or what it will be,” said Leni Salkind, board president.

She said she was concerned about taking a proposal to the public that looked like it was already under way. “It looked like a done deal last time.”

A bond proposal likely will include a component that involves South Junior High School, which Weseman refers to as a unique piece of architecture but a terrible facility for educational purposes.

Weseman told board members options for South could be building a new junior high nearby and razing the current school, taking students out of the building for about two years for a major renovation or repairing minor problems at the school.

Board member Sue Morgan said she thought the district needed to provide all the scenarios to the public and attach an estimated dollar amount to each.

Board member Rich Minder noted that it would be good to consider all the options.

“But in reality it’s been explored,” Minder said. “I don’t think we have any new, groundbreaking research. We pretty much have made up our minds.”

Board member Leonard Ortiz responded by saying the board may realize the district’s needs, but community input still is needed. It’s important that voters understand the logic behind a bond proposal, he said.

Board members also discussed the possibility of adding classroom space to Free State High School for courses such as welding and auto shop.

Free State students currently have to take welding courses at Lawrence High School, said Free State principal Joe Snyder.

“At the last bond issue, one of the things that came up is that we don’t need the full program,” Snyder said. “What we really need is a space where kids can have those introductory classes and allow us to provide the courses.”