Newman Grove Attempting to Build New School With $9.5 million Bond
Newman Grove Attempting to Build New School With $9.5 million Bond
May 3, 2018Updated: June 18, 2019
By News Channel Nebraska
By News Channel Nebraska
The Newman Grove schools have a big measure coming up for vote on the upcoming ballot.
They are asking for citizens to approve a $9.5 million bond in order to build a new school. Superintendent Mikal Shalikow explains that if the measure passes it would be going towards solving what the faculty see's as a major issue.
"So with this building project, our goal is to get most of our school on the east side of the highway so our elementary kids don't have to cross the highway multiple times a day," Shalikow said.
Shalikow understands that if the voters do pass the measure, it would mean they would be imposing more taxes on themselves, but after evaluating all options, the district found that building a new school was the best and cheapest solution.
"Yeah, financially it does raise our tax levee a little bit, it will raise it another 4 cents on our overall levee," Shalikow said.
“For a homeowner, if you own a $100,000 home, then the $9.5 million bond would cost you $40 additionally a year. If we did the maximizing the building fund and try the bandaid fixes it would cost about $70 more per year, and if we merged with neighboring districts it would cost about $65 a year."
While it would cost the tax payers more, it would also result in more time in the classroom for the students.
"We have music over on this side of the highway as well as the lunch program so those kids are crossing up to four times," Shalikow said. "We've calculated that is about eight days of instruction that they lose and that would be eliminated with this building project."
Should the project move forward, it would not only keep students in the classroom, but it would keep them safe as well. The issue of student safety is something that weighs on the minds of community members under how the schools are currently set up.
"Next year i'll have two preschool kids that go to school here," said School Board Member Becky Wallin. "Trucks go by, even though they don't mean to, they go by this highway so fast. The other day when I was out for a walk, there was a semi-truck going by and he was on his phone."
The students potentially wouldn't be the only ones to suffer if the bond fails to pass, as the growth of the community and the existing members of the community seem to be heavily tied to the fate of the school as well.
"I've heard so many people say they wouldn't move to this town if there wasn't a school," Wallin said. "That would definitely hurt our community."
Fellow school board member, Jeanie McCloud, echoes Wallins sentiments.
"I feel the school is the heartbeat of the community," McCloud said. "If we don't have a school, our community will suffer in a lot of ways."
McCloud doesn't want to see that happen and thinks that if taxes must be raised, she can't see a better place to spend the money.
"This is what's going to keep our community alive and thriving and I guess in my opinion, what better place is there to put our tax money than our kids?"
They are asking for citizens to approve a $9.5 million bond in order to build a new school. Superintendent Mikal Shalikow explains that if the measure passes it would be going towards solving what the faculty see's as a major issue.
"So with this building project, our goal is to get most of our school on the east side of the highway so our elementary kids don't have to cross the highway multiple times a day," Shalikow said.
Shalikow understands that if the voters do pass the measure, it would mean they would be imposing more taxes on themselves, but after evaluating all options, the district found that building a new school was the best and cheapest solution.
"Yeah, financially it does raise our tax levee a little bit, it will raise it another 4 cents on our overall levee," Shalikow said.
“For a homeowner, if you own a $100,000 home, then the $9.5 million bond would cost you $40 additionally a year. If we did the maximizing the building fund and try the bandaid fixes it would cost about $70 more per year, and if we merged with neighboring districts it would cost about $65 a year."
While it would cost the tax payers more, it would also result in more time in the classroom for the students.
"We have music over on this side of the highway as well as the lunch program so those kids are crossing up to four times," Shalikow said. "We've calculated that is about eight days of instruction that they lose and that would be eliminated with this building project."
Should the project move forward, it would not only keep students in the classroom, but it would keep them safe as well. The issue of student safety is something that weighs on the minds of community members under how the schools are currently set up.
"Next year i'll have two preschool kids that go to school here," said School Board Member Becky Wallin. "Trucks go by, even though they don't mean to, they go by this highway so fast. The other day when I was out for a walk, there was a semi-truck going by and he was on his phone."
The students potentially wouldn't be the only ones to suffer if the bond fails to pass, as the growth of the community and the existing members of the community seem to be heavily tied to the fate of the school as well.
"I've heard so many people say they wouldn't move to this town if there wasn't a school," Wallin said. "That would definitely hurt our community."
Fellow school board member, Jeanie McCloud, echoes Wallins sentiments.
"I feel the school is the heartbeat of the community," McCloud said. "If we don't have a school, our community will suffer in a lot of ways."
McCloud doesn't want to see that happen and thinks that if taxes must be raised, she can't see a better place to spend the money.
"This is what's going to keep our community alive and thriving and I guess in my opinion, what better place is there to put our tax money than our kids?"