Post on 10-Jun-2020
Proposed New Construction Elementary School (Jr. Kindergarten-5th Grade)
The Tea Area School Board (TASB) bi-annually studies the District’s student and valuation growth. Continual long range planning led the School Board to begin land negotiations on the southeast side of Tea. The Board’s study identified both classroom capacity within the current facilities as well as growth areas throughout the District. With the 200 plus building sites in the Boulder Addition just south of Sunshine Foods, accessible water and sewer, and potential future development continuing south, TASB began negotiations on land. The Boulder Group and TASB have a purchase agreement pending voter approval for 7-10 acres just south of the City of Tea maintenance shop. This location would extend Main Street and create 7th street running east and west. TASB hired a construction manager (Jans Corporation) and architect (Koch Hazard) to help study the issue. In addition, the Board developed a building committee with members from the City, Board, District, and community. This group has studied the issue, fostered community feedback sessions, facilitated user group sessions, and brought a recommended proposal to the School Board. The School Board adopted the committee’s recommendation. As a result, the patrons of the Tea Area School District will vote June 20th on whether to issue $15.4 million in bonds to build a Junior Kindergarten– Fifth Grade elementary school with 28 classrooms, additional rooms for music, band, library, computers, and special education services, community center gym and commons area, infrastructure, and furnishings and fixings. The growth projections for the 2014 bond projected growth to be a student population of 1706 during the 2016-2017 school year. The actual population this past year was 1710. Current projections indicate this elementary will provide for elementary needs in the southeast part of the district until 2027. Please note additions to Frontier Elementary are planned. This will not increase property taxes because of the size of the project. The impact of the proposed 85th street development is unknown.
Voter Information Election Day: Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Voting Polls: District Education Center, 131 N. Poplar Ave.,
Tea, SD
Voting Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Absentee Ballot: Absentee ballots are available at the
District Education Center, 131 N. Poplar Ave., Tea, SD during regular Business Office Hours: Monday through Thursday – 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday – 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
How do I register to vote: The deadline for voter
registration is 15 days prior to the June 20 election (or by June 5). You must be 18 years of age (need a valid ID) on or before the election day, be a U.S. citizen and reside in South Dakota. You can register at the Lincoln County Court House (104 N. Main St., Canton, SD) or Tea City Hall (600 E. 1st St., Tea, SD). Forms are also available online at http://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/voting/register-to-vote/default.aspx
LOCATION OF PROPOSED ELEMENTARY
BUILDING COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Conrad Pick (TASD – Board of Education) Todd Irvine (TASD – Board of Education)
Sid Munson (City of Tea) Kevin Nissen (City of Tea)
Dick Gors (Community Member) Thad Konrad (Community Member)
Dr. Jennifer Lowery (TASD – Superintendent) Chris Esping (TASD – Business Manager)
Wayne Larsen (TASD – Operations Manager) Chris Friedrich (TASD – Technology Coordinator)
Keith Thompson (Koch Hazard Architects) Allison Dvorak (Koch Hazard Architects)
Brian Jans (Jans Corporation) Arlan Van Voorst (Jans Corporation)
Tea Area School District Board of Education:
John Herr, President ........................................ 605-498-5947 Conrad Pick, Vice President ............................. 605-351-6560 Todd Irvine....................................................... 605-376-3174 Kristen Daggett ................................................ 605-201-7886 Bob Lundin ....................................................... 605-498-1601
JUNE 2017
THIS PUBLICATION PAID FOR BY TEA AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES.
Tea Area School District 41-5
ELEMENTARY BOND ELECTION Fact Sheet
School Bond Election Tuesday, June 20, 2017
District Education Center 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Tea Area School District 41-5 P.O. Box 488 Tea, SD 57064-0488
ECRWSS
DELIVER TO CURRENT RESIDENT
NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE
PAID TEA, SD
PERMIT #4
INTERIOR DESIGN OF PROPOSED ELEMENTARY
FRONT OF PROPOSED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL – NORTHWEST CORNER
Please direct questions to: Dr. Jennifer Lowery, Superintendent
or Chris Esping, Business Manager 605-498-2700 ext. 5
or to any school board member
Information Meeting Wednesday, June 7, 2017 – 7:00 p.m.
Middle School Commons 515 W. Brian St., Tea, SD
TEA AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT 41-5 ELEMENTARY BOND ELECTION
School Year Total JK-4 over capacity Total JK-5 over capacity in Elementary Building
2016-2017 0 -5 2017-2018 -1 -6 2018-2019 -2 -7 2019-2020 -3 -9 2020-2021 -5 -11 2021-2022 -7 -12 2022-2023 -7 -13 2023-2024 -10 -16 2024-2025 -12 -19 2025-2026 -15 -22 2026-2027 -16 -23 2027-2028 -20 -28 2028-2029 -23 -31 2029-2030 -26 -34
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Current Facility Capacity
These charts project the elementary classroom shortfall per school year with identified class size maximums.
What is the need and why is this important?
What are the enrollment numbers and projections? Enrollment Projections during the 2013-2014 bond indicated 4% growth. The projected student count for the 2016-2017 school year was 1706. The actual student count for the 2016–2017 school year was 1710. The projected growth is calculated per grade level based on the last 13 years of history. The total student num ber growth projections continue to be approximately 4%.
What does this project entail? The project includes 28 general education classrooms to meet elementary projections through the 2027 -2028 school year. In addition to the 28 general education classrooms, there are classrooms for library, vocal, band, computers, Special Education, Title, and English as a Second Language. A separate commons for lunch is part of the design. A two-court gymnasium, similar to the Middle School, for PE class is also part of the project. An additional court will be an add alternate on the project as the City will decide its capacity needs compared to cost efficiency.
The gym will be a joint use facility operated by the city for community use during non-academic hours. Included in the project costs are land, roads, furniture & fixtures, and playground.
Were other options considered? Each of the buildings’ capacities in the District was studied. The visua l representation of this study is included in this informational flier located in the box on the left. The rooms in red indicate classrooms used with no open time during the day. This visual representation clearly indicates each building is nearing capacity.
Shifting student populations was considered, but in each scenario, building would need to occur. The other options are increasing class size above the numbers indicated in the chart below or utilizing temporary classrooms.
Grade JK K 1 2 3 4 5
Students per class 20 22 24 24 25 25 25
What is this project going to cost? The bond is for $15.4 million to be paid over 25 years. The Board of Educat ion has asked our bond agent, Dougherty and Company, to structure the bond so that the District’s total bond levy is $4.00/$1000 or less with room in the future for the middle school and high school expansions. The intent is to keep the bond levy at $4.00/$1,000 or less.
CHANGE IN TOTAL BOND TAX LEVY PER YEAR
Tax Year Proposed Project Levy
$/$1000 valuation
Total Tax Levy for all Bonds
$/$1000 Change in Tax levy per year
2013 $4.177 + $1.077
2014 $3.880 -$0.297
2015 $4.114 +$0.234
2016 $3.865 -$0.249
2017 $3.295 -$0.569
2018 $0.88 $3.946 +$0.651
2019 $0.97 $3.969 +$0.023
2020 $1.03 $3.961 -$0.008
2021 $1.05 $3.895 -$0.066
2022 $1.02 $3.722 -$0.173
2023 $0.99 $3.641 -$0.081
Conservative projections made assuming 4% valuation growth for the next 4 years and 2% valuation growth thereafter
If valuation increases more rapidly, the actual cost per $1000 will decrease
Average valuation growth in the Tea Area School District is 5% not factoring in the reassessment
How will the proposed elementary school affect my taxes? Property owners in the Tea Area School District paid $329.50 per $100,000 of property value for 2017 taxes (payable in 2018) for the bonds that the District has for the previous projects. If the elementary bond passes, property owners would be paying roughly $65 per year more per $100,000 in property valuation than what they paid in the previous year, or approximately $395/$100,000 per year. Please note that the levy steadily decreases over time after the initial $65 per year increase.
The Board is conscientious of the tremendous investment Tea Area Patrons make in our students and community. They are working to be fiscally responsible and conservative while building a product that our community can be proud to provide for our student’s education.
Do we have to do this now? Why can’t we wait a few more years? If the District waits, construction costs will increase and elementary class sizes will exceed the Board identified maximum class sizes listed below:
Grade JK K 1 2 3 4 5
Students per class 20 22 24 24 25 25 25
What are some of the advantages of this plan? The Board projects that this will take care of the elementary classroom need until 2027. Frontier will need a classroom expansion in 2019, but the amount of money required will not require any additional taxes. The projected expansion for the MS and HS will need to open in 2026; thus, construction/planning will begin 18-24 months prior to that date.
The effect of 85th street is unknown on the District, but that will come with additional tax revenue not in our current projections.
Where will students attend school during construction? Students will continue to attend their school. Music and computers may need to go onto carts and class sizes may increase slightly until the new elementary is completed.
Who will attend this school? The School Board will set the boundaries for the new school in an open meeting. The boundaries will be studied taking into consideration balancing the demographics of the elementary schools, proximity, and natural boundaries such as highways. In-District open enrollment will be an option via Board policy.
Grade Students Per Class
JK 20
K 22
1 24
2 24
3 25
4 25
5 25
The alternative would be to raise class sizes above the maximums or use temporary classrooms.
2020 5th grade will outgrow the Middle School (3 Years) without an elementary. PE classes will continue
to be reduced as long as 5th grade is in the Middle School due to scheduling.
2026 Middle School and High School expansion will be needed.
(Academic Wing Only)