The $45 million no-tax increase bond measure, referred to as Prop R3, would fund the construction of the new school on property the district owns along Highway 47 a few miles north of Interstate 70 in Warrenton.
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The Warren County R-III School District plans to build a new elementary school and expand its early childhood program if voters approve an April bond issue.
The $45 million no-tax increase bond measure, referred to as Prop R3, would fund the construction of the new school on property the district owns along Highway 47 a few miles north of Interstate 70 in Warrenton.
To pass, the bond issue will have to garner a 4/7 majority of the vote, or 57.1 percent.
So far feedback from district patrons has been positive with the election approaching on April 2.
“Most see the need for early childhood and everyone sees the amount of new homes going up,” Superintendent Dr. Gregg Klinginsmith said. “We’ve learned you cannot get behind on growth.”
District officials want to make sure they are prepared for the future growth and capitalize on state funding.
The district’s current bond capacity is $26 million and would increase to $38,500 to build an elementary school consisting of 25 classrooms in a first phase, expected to be open for the 2027-28 school year. A second phase would add 12 more classrooms when additional bonds become available.
The district’s plan is to move Daniel Boone Elementary from its current site to the new building. The current Daniel Boone Elementary building would be used for early childhood, which is housed at the same building of the district’s central office on Veterans Memorial Parkway and provides room for 100 children in six classrooms. Moving early childhood will provide 15 additional classrooms to expand into.
Klinginsmith noted the district currently has 119 children on a waiting list to be in the early childhood program.
“We just don’t have space for them,” the superintendent said.
Klinginsmith said the district is currently missing out on state funding for early childhood that is distributed to others across the state who have room to handle enrollment in their preschool programs.
For example, one future possibility is adding a program for 4-year-olds who are on free or reduced lunch, which would benefit approximately 60 children, with the cost covered by the state.
“We don’t have space for that program and could start right away,” Klinginsmith remarked.
In the past five years, the district’s enrollment has increased from 3,208 to 3,072. With more new homes already under construction – around 1,000 residential units have been planned in the district – that figure is only going to keep climbing.
“The growth is steady,” Klinginsmith said. “The growth is on the way.
The construction cost for a 25-classroom elementary school is projected to be $38.5 million or $42 million for 37 classrooms. Since there will be a gap when bonds are issued, an interest-only loan of approximately $500,000 a year will cover the budget shortfall. The loan is expected to cover three to five years, but bonds may become available quicker if assessed values increase faster than anticipated.
The new elementary school could lead to boundary changes for the district’s elementary schools. Officials noted the boundaries will be evaluated and potentially adjusted the year prior to the new school opening.
