Wyoming — Voters Nov. 4 will consider a $29.75 million bond proposal, which, if passed, would fund district-wide work, culminating years of major renovations, upgrades and rebuilds.
It is one of two district proposals on the ballot.
Related: Sinking fund request on November ballot
The proposal is the third since requests passed in 2017 for $80 million and 2022 for $25 million. Those bonds funded rebuilds of Wyoming High School and Wyoming Junior High and extensive improvements district-wide — without raising property tax rates.
“This third request will complete our facilities master plan,” said Superintendent Craig Hoekstra. “The intent for this bond is finishing the work that we started for our kids, our communities and for their futures.”
The new proposal would actually result in a reduced millage rate, from 5.65 mills to 5.50 mills, starting with the summer 2026 levy. The bond term would be 25 years. A reduced millage tax rate is possible due to a decrease in the district’s annual existing debt service payments, coupled with continued strong taxable value growth, said Associate Superintendent Jamie Carnes.
Hoekstra said going to the community with three different requests over several years has made renovating the entire district possible without raising tax rates. If all projects had been included in one huge proposal, there would have been an increase.
“We greatly appreciate the community’s support in investing in our kids and their education and for an even stronger community,” he said.
Major projects — to be completed by GMB Architecture and Engineering and The Christman Company if the bond passes — include the addition of a new gymnasium at Gladiola Elementary. The school’s current “sunken gym” would be brought up to ground level and renovated into office, learning and intervention spaces. The new gym is planned as a building addition, to be located on existing greenspace.
Other projects include:
- Enhanced safety and security measures including cameras and updated entrances at the Wyoming Early Childhood Center and the Secondary Learning Academy, located in the Wyoming Junior High School building
- Enhanced classroom and lab spaces; updated technology and fully air-conditioned learning environments (most buildings have been updated with AC through the previous two bonds, but some areas within buildings have not)
- Classrooms in the Secondary Learning Academy will be upgraded with room for more office space and learning areas including break-out spaces
- Athletic facility improvements and community accessible spaces for events and activities.
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