A Peek Inside Johnston Schools Bond Referendum

From the Johnston Schools website:

Voters in the Johnston school district will go to the polls June 25 in a special election to decide the fate of a $41 million bond referendum.

This is the second attempt for bond passage which will include constructing a new high school and renovating other buildings. The school board cut the price tag by $10 million from last year's failed bond issue and further refined the needs versus wants for the district.

If the vote passes with a 60 percent super-majority on June 25, the $41 million would be put toward five construction projects that would alleviate the overcrowding issues experienced at Johnston High School, Johnston Middle School, Beaver Creek Elementary, Horizon Elementary, and space and programming needs at Wallace Elementary.

The revised facilities plan includes:

• New 10-12 high school north of 62nd Avenue and west of 100th Street ‐ $81 million – completed in 2016
• Renovation to existing high school to house 8th and 9th grade students ‐ $4 million – completed in 2016
• Renovation of the existing middle school on 62nd Avenue to house elementary students by moving Wallace Elementary to that building, along with district preschool. ‐ $16 million ‐ completed in 2017
• Furniture Fixtures and Equipment ‐ $6 million
• Renovation of the existing Wallace Elementary to meet district needs ‐ $5 million ‐ completed in 2018

With the $41 million in general obligation bonds, the remaining $71 million needed for the complete project will come from existing PPEL (physical plant and equipment levy) and sales tax funds. The approval of the $41 million would result in a slight property tax increase for residential, commercial, and agricultural land owners in Johnston. Those increases have not yet been released.

Attached are architect renderings of the high school – a bird’s eye view and floor layout – courtesy of FRK Architects +Engineers.