The State of Delaware has
approved their share of the funding for our next construction plan. Now we have to get the commitment from our
community for our share. We do that
through referendum and the vote will be on May 28.
What’s in it? Mostly safety and security improvements.
·
At both North and East elementary schools, the
office is not next to the entry door.
Visitors are viewed through security camera and the door is opened
electrically. When the visitor comes through the door,
it is possible for them to go wherever they want without going to the office. At those two schools we need to move the
office and reconfigure some rooms, walls and doorways so that front door and
school office are together.
·
Security cameras – WTC, South, East and Central
elementary all need expended security equipment.
· Lab tables in science rooms at W.T.Chipman and some of the
old floor tiles contain asbestos. They
pose no immediate danger but we have been gradually removing these old products
from around the district.
·
We would like to build an enclosed corridor for
students to transition between the main building and the gym at W.T.Chipman.
·
At the High school, the football field has
become a bit of a safety concern and the rubberized surface is lifting off the
track. This package includes resurfacing
the track and installation of an artificial surface for the football
field. This will also make it easier for
us to open the field to all sports including Pop Warner, because we will no
longer worry about mud and over use.
·
There are a lot of other details and small
projects included in our plan that we hope to have available on our website
soon.
So what’s the cost?
The complete package will cost $7,707,300. The State of Delaware will pay for $5,086,800
or 66% of the construction costs. The
local 34% share is $2,620,500. This
amount will be obtained by using $1,369,000 accumulated from development impact
fees already collected and held presently by Kent County in the School District
Capital Improvement Fund and by a slight increase in property taxes from the
authorization to purchase local bonds for the rest if this referendum is
successful. The tiny tax increase will
be offset by reductions in our overall debt service rate, meaning no net
increase in taxes. We’ll raise them a
penny or two on one hand, while reducing them a penny or two on the other.
More details will be available soon.
