Trojan News
Signature Collection Begins for November 5th Bond Referendum
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 15, 2024
Please direct inquiries to:
Jacy Large, Superintendent
641-483-2660
Signature Collection Begins for November 5th Bond Referendum
STATE CENTER, IA — Petitions are now available requesting a $14 million bond measure to be placed on the ballot for consideration by West Marshall Community School District on Tuesday, November 5th, 2024.
Eligible voters within the district can find the petitions in our main offices at the Elementary, Middle School and High School offices and Post Offices in State Center, Melbourne and Rhodes. Once the required number of signatures have been collected, the West Marshall School Board will consider placing a general obligation bond on the ballot. Petitions will also be available at Open-house nights on August 22nd as we welcome students and families back to school.
If at least 60% of voters approve the bond on November 5th, the funds would help support a series of improvements that include the construction of a NEW K-5 elementary building, (replacing the existing footprint and beyond the space currently occupied by the 1923 three-story building currently serving grades 4-5), the creation of a new parent drop off and parking area, and an addition connecting the middle school and high school that includes Career and Technical Education space, among other renovations.
“We will continue to engage with communities about the facility challenges we face and the practical solutions that can become reality with a bond referendum,” said Superintendent Large. “It’s important for our students to have the learning environment and resources they need to thrive, and we believe this plan will fulfill that mission and provide long-term stability allowing the elementary to remain on main street for years to come.”
The School Board, Bond Committee members and administration believe these projects will address key facility needs, provide more opportunities for students, allow West Marshall CSD to retain and attract staff, and make the learning environment match the present and future needs of technology integration and safety for kids.
West Marshall CSD’s certified enrollment declined by 11.7% in the previous 20 years, to stand at 757 students in 2023-24. However, open enrollment into the district has risen by 309% since 2003-04 and accounted for 168 students in 2023-24 alone.
In addition to financial support provided by an approved general obligation bond, the proposed facility improvement projects would also be funded using a portion of the revenue West Marshall CSD receives from the statewide one-cent sales tax fund, known as Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE). SAVE has no impact on local property taxes.
The School Board has taken the unique step of using general tax funds to buy down the tax rate and save property taxpayers $500,000 in recent years. The district’s overall tax levy rate for the current fiscal year is one of the lowest in the area, at $11.52 per $1,000 of assessed property value. That’s lower than Baxter ($18.69), Collins-Maxwell ($16.57) Marshalltown ($14.75), Roland-Story ($14.11), Colo-NESCO ($13.80) and Nevada ($13.57).
CLICK HERE to read the FULL RELEASE and to view the Detailed Information regarding estimated increase for home assessed values. The district will also be launching a website and hosting open-meetings once the Board of Education calls for the General Obligation Bond Referendum for November 5th.