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Bond issue discussion sparks larger issues about recruiting people
RANDOLPH – Discussion about a proposed school bond issue curtailed into a broader conversation about how to attract young families to town.
Randolph School Board members presented information at a town hall meeting last week, detailing how they whittled down the scope and price tag of a school bond issue. Voters narrowly defeated a $9.75 million bond issue in November. One million was shaved off the total price and will likely be presented to voters in a May special election.
The new bond proposal includes a scaled-down version of the new Career Technical Education/Ag building, from 13,000 square feet to 9,680 square feet. Additional space for the art program and a mezzanine was dropped from the original plan.
Roof repairs slated at the high school will be taken out of the bond proposal, instead funded through the district’s special building fund and completed this summer. That leaves the high school gym air conditioning project remaining on the bond.
No changes were made in the improvements planned at the elementary building, estimated at nearly $4.9 million. Upgrades include an HVAC overhaul, a new serving kitchen, renovating bathrooms, replacing electrical and lighting, and making a new secure entrance, among others.
In financial impact information shared at last week’s meeting, the reduced bond proposal results in an estimated annual payment of $650,000 with a bond levy at about 9.5 cents.
If passed, property tax on a $100,000 home, for example, would increase $95 per year. Ag land would see increases at $4.86 per acre for irrigated land; $4.55 per acre for dry land; and $1.77 per acre of grassland annually.
The borrowing rate will be locked in for the life of the loan unless the board decides to recall the bond and refinance it at a lower rate. The district is allowed to do this process every five years, said Tobin Buchanan of Northland Securities, Omaha, one of the district’s bond partners.
Randolph Public Schools’ district valuations include portions of Cedar, Wayne and Pierce counties. That projected levy includes principal and interest that would be calculated for the 20-year life of the bond.
For the bond, agriculture land is assessed at 50 percent of market value, per state law.
At last week’s meeting, Darin Loberg said voters may be willing to fund improvements at the elementary if the new CTE/ag building is not included.
“It’s holding you back from what you need to do at the elementary. It just seems like the thing to do to get what you need over there,” he said.
Board President Paul Schmit said that option was considered.
“We have a hard time knowing where to cut,” he said. “As a board, we’re convinced it all needs to be done.”
Superintendent Daryl Schrunk said putting off projects only adds to the price tag over time due to inflation.
“We’re worried, we’re trying to chase that tail,” he said.
While Randolph is an agriculture community, a new ag building won’t necessarily bring about what’s needed most - young families to town, Beau Simpson said.
“There’s local communities that are positive toward ag, but how do you get them (students) back? How do you keep them interested? I don’t think the ag building is going to drive them back here,” he said. “I don’t want to increase my taxes. It’s a tough year as a farmer.”
Dan Backer said his property taxes amounted to $22,000 on four quarters of ag land last year. If taxation on farmers continues to increase, he fears young people will consider other career fields.
Board Member Lucas Miller said it’s true that the majority of support for the Randolph school district comes from ag land.
“As a board member, I can’t change that. It’s been that way the last 30 years. The state is the one that sets how we budget and where the money comes from,” he said.
But the district has been good stewards of the money, Miller said, with the amount spent to educate each student at Randolph considerably lower compared to other schools in the area.
Randolph’s bond proposal is also modest compared to a $14.9 million bond passed in Clarkson last fall. Nearby Laurel-Concord-Coleridge school passed a $25 million bond by only one vote in 2021.
The board has been studying and setting money aside for a new CTE/ ag building for several years. Built in 1966, the two existing ag buildings were not built to house the current equipment being used. Having two separate buildings is not ideal for safety and it limits the number of students in courses there.
There also is no storm shelter at the building which is now legally required, and air ventilation needs to be upgraded, said High School Principal Brandi Bartels.
Currently, animal science/large animal management, plant and soil science, welding, woodworking, agriscience, agricultural exploration, drafting, building construction, and metals fabrication courses are taught at the ag building. But the construction of a new building will allow the district to be more flexible in addressing needs of the ag community and future workforce, Bartels aid.
“We’re trying to design spaces that are there for the future, maybe it turns into a small engines class. We’re not trying to build for what we currently need right now, but innate spaces for other opportunities,” she said.
School enrollment has remained steady and is projected to increase slightly over the next few years, Schrunk said. Currently, 26 students option out of the district to attend school elsewhere while 11 students option enroll into the Randolph district.
Theresa Schnoor said when families are looking to move to an area, they first look at the school district. How a school looks is a big part of it.
“It’s (school bond issue) a risk. It’s a chance. It’s money. It takes all of us to make some of that stuff happen,” she said. “Sometimes our community has a real tough time with change. We have to step up to the plate if we want to be supportive for the betterment of our community.”
