FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are the district’s needs?

The North Tama County School was built in 1917, and while there have been additions, our students are still using the 105-year-old core of the building every day. The district has worked hard to keep up with maintenance, but the building has issues that are no longer cost effective to fix.

According to a facilities study completed in 2021, there are numerous areas that are not accessible for those with disabilities, including classrooms, restrooms, locker rooms, and gym space. In addition, the electrical and HVAC systems are well beyond their typical lifespan and in need of replacement. Further, our facilities have spaces that are not adequate for serving today's students.

One of our priorities is to prepare our students for future careers. Some of those occupations do not exist today, which is why schools need to have spaces that are multipurpose and flexible to adjust to the changing demands of the workforce.

The school district has been a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars and has looked for ways to reduce the impact on taxpayers as we maintain our facilities. However, we are at a point at which we cannot delay addressing our facility needs any longer.

What would happen if these needs are not addressed?

If we do not address these needs soon, the outstanding schools our community members have come to expect could be jeopardized. We believe the time has come to address our facility needs to ensure students continue to have access to the resources and spaces they need to be successful in the North Tama County Community Schools.

What is the master plan to address the district's facility needs?

In an effort to address the district's short-term and long-term facilities needs, the School Board has developed a comprehensive plan that includes four phases:

Phase I - High School Addition & Critical Upgrades

Phase I requires the approval of the $14.85 million bond issue on the ballot this November. It will center on a high school addition and critical upgrades, including an approximately 18,000 square-foot addition and about a 5,600 square-foot renovation.

Projects completed in Phase I would include:

East side addition (new high school) with new classrooms & collaboration spaces
Secure entry upgrades
Locker room/weight room reconfiguration to provide required handicapped accessibility
Pave existing parking lot
Selective maintenance for other areas

Phase II - Replace 1917 Structure

Slated for 2029, Phase II would focus on replacing the 1917 structure on our campus, including about a 40,000 square-foot demolition and about a 25,000 square-foot infill addition. It would come with a cost of $12.955 million in 2029, projected using the current 2023 cost estimate of $10.85 million inflated annually at 3%. As much as $2.5 million would come from PPEL and one-cent statewide sales tax funds, which would reduce the impact on our property taxpayers.

Projects completed in Phase II would include:

Demolishing the three-story building in the center
Building a one-story building with art, library, commons, kitchen, receiving, storage, admin, and pupil services spaces
Right-sizing Early Childhood-5K spaces with restrooms
Special education improvements

Phase III - Gymnasium Addition

Phase III would include a new two-station competition gymnasium addition of 9,000-13,000 square feet, proposed as an addition to the east of campus if property is acquired. Phase III’s current $5 million cost becomes $7.5 million when projected out to 2037

Phase IV - Elementary Renovation (~6,200 sq. ft. renovation)

The final phase would focus on an elementary renovation, including reconfiguring and connecting classrooms for collaboration and flexibility, along with maintenance and refinishing. The current $4.1 million cost becomes $7.4 million when projected out to 2043.

What work has the district and board done to date?

In 2021, the district embarked on a comprehensive study of all district buildings and facilities, with the goal of developing a long-term master plan for our facilities. The plan has resulted in a long-range vision for North Tama's facilities for the next 10-15 years.

Through the study, we learned that, due to the age and condition of our facilities, maintenance alone would cost $13 million over the next decade. We wanted to know if there would be a wiser investment that could provide a 21st century learning environment for our students and better position our facilities for the future.

In the past two years, the district has hosted community input meetings and provided other opportunities for community members to share their thoughts about the future of our facilities. In March 2023, a proposed bond vote fell just short of the 60% approval needed to pass.

Will community members get to vote on this?

Yes. The School Board has approved a bond issue question that will appear on the ballot Tuesday, November 7, 2023.

What's on the ballot November 7, 2023?

The School Board has placed a $14.85 million bond issue question on the ballot for Tuesday, November 7, 2023. If the question receives at least 60% approval, the district will move forward with Phase I of the master facilities plan. It will center on a high school addition and critical upgrades, including an approximately 18,000 square-foot addition and about a 5,600 square-foot renovation.

Targeted projects for Phase I would include the following at our high school:

East side addition (new high school) with new classrooms & collaboration spaces
Secure entry upgrades
Locker room/weight room reconfiguration to provide required handicapped accessibility
Pave existing parking lot
Selective maintenance for other areas

How would an approved bond affect property taxes?

If the November 7 bond is approved, the largest estimated impact on a home assessed at $100,000 would be $172.73 per year, or $14.39 per month. The estimated tax impact on an average 40-acre field of farmland located within the North Tama Community School District would be $253.72 per year, or $21.14 per month.

It's important to note that the Homestead Credit was changed by the 2023 Iowa Legislature. All eligible homeowners can claim $4,850 as before, but homeowners who are 65 or older will also now receive an additional $3,250 credit on their 2023 valuations—with that increasing to $6,500 credit on 2024 valuations and beyond. The Homestead Credit for all homeowners will likely be adjusted in future years, as well.

The district and board aim to keep property taxes as low as possible in our community. We have worked to balance the needs of our students and schools with those of our community members. We look to make the most of every dollar community members invest in their local schools.

Why are there no detailed blueprints before the vote so that we can see everything, right down to the color of the trim?

In Iowa, capital expenditures that require additional funding above and beyond that of a school district’s regular operating budget require a general obligation (GO) bond. A GO bond needs at least 60% voter approval to pass. Without that supermajority vote, there is no financial support for a project, and it cannot move forward.

It would therefore be fiscally irresponsible for the district to pay for the professional services of an architectural firm before we know if community members support the plan. In fact, the architectural design process itself can take 8-10 months. Beyond that, working with an architectural firm requires significant time and energy on the part of district staff and leadership.

With this in mind, most school districts do not engage an architectural firm to complete the design process until after a GO bond is approved by voters.

Why is the three-story building not included in Phase I?

There is not another building in town large enough to provide a temporary location to hold school during construction. Because the demolition of the 1917 building core and construction of a replacement structure would take longer than a three-month-long summer break, the only viable plan is one that allows the school to continue to operate on a day-to-day basis while construction is taking place.

Simply put, the Phase 1 construction of a new addition containing high school classrooms will make it possible to vacate the majority of the 1917 building so that a demolition of that structure can happen in Phase 2.

During the second phase, spaces in the 1917 building that are not being moved to the new high school addition can be temporarily relocated.

If enrollment is steady, why is more space needed?

When Phase II is complete, the building footprint will have only increased by approximately 3,000 square feet. The demolition of the three-story building will take away about 40,000 square feet, and the new construction will be approximately 18,000 square feet for Phase I and 25,000 square feet for Phase II.

The final facility—after Phase II is complete—will not be much larger than the current one. However, there will be significant improvements in safety, security, accessibility, and learning environments.

How much revenue would an approved bond generate for the district?

If approved, the bond would provide the district with $14.85 million in additional revenue to address its space and facility needs.

When is election day?

The bond question will appear on the regular city/school election ballot Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Also appearing on the ballot across Iowa will be mayoral races, city council races, and the election of school board representatives.

Which polling locations will be open on election day?

The following locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7:

Traer Memorial Building (City of Traer Voters and Buckingham & Perry Township Voters)
Clutier Fire Station (City of Clutier Voters and Carroll & Oneida Township Voters)
Dysart Community Building (Clark & Geneseo Township Voters)
Elberon Community Building (York Township Voters)
Lincoln Amvets Hall (Grant Township Voters)
Reinig Civic Center, Toledo (Howard Township Voters)
Gladbrook Memorial Building (Crystal Township Voters)

What other ways can I vote in this election?

ABSENTEE VOTING IN-PERSON: Voters may complete an absentee ballot in person at the County Auditor’s Office during normal business hours starting on October 23. The last day to vote by absentee ballot in person is the day before the election.

ABSENTEE VOTING BY MAIL: To vote absentee by mail, ballots must be requested by October 23 and returned by November 7. Find the absentee ballot request form at: www.bit.ly/ballotrequestformiowa.

SATELLITE VOTING: To allow additional convenient opportunities for in-person voting, Tama County election officials have agreed to open the polls on Wednesday, October 18, and Thursday, October 19, from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. each day. Polls will be open at the Traer Memorial Building only for anyone interested in casting their ballot in the school bond election, regardless of where they live in the North Tama school district.

Is absentee voting available for this election?

Yes. Voters may complete an absentee ballot in person at the County Auditor’s Office during normal business hours. The last day to vote by absentee ballot in person is the day before the election.

To vote absentee by mail, ballots must be requested by October 23 and returned by November 7. Find the absentee ballot request form at: www.bit.ly/ballotrequestformiowa.

Addressing Our Space & Facility Needs