WHAT'S HAPPENING?
Over the past several years, the USD 214 Board of Education and Facility Steering Committee have determined extensive facility needs across our district and worked with an architect and construction manager to develop a proposed solution.
In a special election on August 29, Grant County voters will be asked to consider two questions for improving USD 214 facilities:
Question 1: Shall we approve a school bond issue in the amount of $44.75 million?
Question 2: Shall we approve a 1% city sales tax in Ulysses to help fund this effort?
WHY ARE FACILITY UPDATES NEEDED?
About ten years ago, USD 214 completed a facility study that identified extensive functional needs in all four of our school buildings, as well as essential updates to accommodate modern technology and learning. Since then, the USD 214 Board of Education has diligently worked to maintain facilities and fund small expansions/renovations on a modest annual capital outlay budget. However, the needs of our school buildings continue to grow.
Additionally, our district’s enrollment has leveled after a period of decline. We are currently maintaining more square footage than we need, which is costly. Through focusing on fewer buildings, we can be more efficient in both improvements and maintenance.
WHY NOW?
There’s never a good time to ask for money to fund capital improvements. The process for this school bond project began several years ago but was put on hold due to COVID-19. With construction costs continuing to escalate and our buildings continuing to age, the Board of Education and facility steering committee believe it’s time to act. The more we delay, the more the cost increases for taxpayers in the future, and the longer students lack the facilities they deserve.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
The proposed solution is based on the steering committee’s guiding principles for the project:
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Future-focused
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Safety and security
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Fiscally responsible,
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Durable, functional, and flexible
At the heart is a reconfiguration of grades across three buildings: Hickok Elementary (Pre-K-3), Sullivan Elementary (4-6), and Ulysses Junior/Senior High (7-12). Kepley’s auditorium and gym would remain in use, and the district office would relocate to Kepley. This configuration brings many benefits for students and faculty, including fewer transitions across a student’s educational journey, as well as more efficient food service and shared access for 7-8/9-12 for music, shop, and other specialized classrooms.
ULYSSES HIGH SCHOOL
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Transition to a 7-12 grade facility and expand classroom space by constructing a new middle school wing and a new high school wing
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Address ADA and safety/security concerns by remodeling/upgrading the existing high school wing, kitchen, and culinary arts spaces
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New science labs and renovated/upgraded shop areas
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Construct a new weight room and renovate the existing weight room to serve as the wrestling room
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Perform mechanical system upgrades
$33,125,000
HICKOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
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Address accessibility, safety, and security by remodeling all classroom spaces, the kitchen, and all non-ADA compliant restrooms
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Perform mechanical system upgrades and asbestos abatement where needed
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New windows and upgrades to the west façade and main entrance
$5,930,000
SULLIVAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
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Address accessibility, safety, and security by remodeling all classroom spaces, the kitchen, and all non-ADA compliant restrooms
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Perform mechanical system upgrades and asbestos abatement where needed
$4,960,000
KEPLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL
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Upgrade the auditorium and dressing rooms with new lighting and paint
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Total renovation of restrooms outside of auditorium
$735,000
TOTAL
$44,750,000
ANTICIPATED TAXES FOR $44,750,000 BUDGET
USD 214 is presenting two options on funding the school bond project. One option is to repay the bond through a property tax increase, which would be a 17-mill increase to our current mills. The second option is to also implement a 1% Ulysses city sales tax to help re-pay the bond amount, dropping the mill increase to 12-mills for this project. See below examples on how this would affect your monthly expenses:
25 YEAR BOND WITH A 1% SALES TAX
$11.50/month
Average tax increase on $100,000 home
25 YEAR BOND WITHOUT A 1% SALES TAX
$16.29/month
Average tax increase on $100,000 home
Average tax increase on $100,000 commercial property
$25.00/month
$35.42/month
Average tax increase on $100,000 commercial property
CONTACT US
111 S. Baughman Street
Ulysses, KS 67880
620-356-3655
620-356-3581