ROSE HILL, Kan. (KSNW) – A nearly $20 million bond issue is up for a vote in Rose Hill. USD 394 Superintendent Chuck Lambert says the district desperately needs upgrades.
Voters rejected a bond issue two years ago, and Lambert says that put Rose Hill students at a disadvantage. He said a yes vote this time would give the district’s youth better opportunities to succeed.
Lambert thinks adding storm shelters and secure entryways to this new bond issue will help it pass this time. He said the current entryways need to be safer.
“People, when they visit, get buzzed in, but they can almost go left or right as soon as they come in, not right into the office,” he said.
The new bond would take care of that, sending visitors to the office first.
The tornado shelters will also function as other spaces, adding new weight and wrestling rooms to the high school.
The extra space helps address another major issue in town.
“We have a very busy preschool and day care. We want to add additional space there, so that would help us out with room for the kids to go because our numbers are huge there,” Lambert said.
If the bond passes, it would also mean new culinary arts and science classrooms and sports fields, something high school students are excited about.
“I have a lot of younger siblings, and I want them to be able to grow up in a school with a bunch of upgrades that suit them, and they can see how the school evolves and benefits them,” Rose Hill senior Kimberlin Lovell said.
“To create an environment where we’re going to thrive is really important,” senior Jonah Lemasters said.
Lambert said the biggest reason it may not pass is that people are worried about taxes, but he says there will not be a mill levy increase.
“Tried to be as transparent as we can, trying to show exactly what it will do for students and people’s fees, making sure we show all of that,” said Lambert.
He said taxes will only increase if residential property values increase. The $19,995,000 will be amortized over 16 years, which means it will be extended to 2040 instead of 2031.
Lambert said they had a meeting this week, and public reactions were positive. He believes there is a much better understanding from voters this time around to get the bond passed.
The bond issue is on the Nov. 5 general election ballot.