Voters in the Warren County R-III School District overwhelmingly supported a bond measure to construct a new elementary school Tuesday. 

Prop R3, a $45 million no-tax increase bond measure, will fund the construction of the new school on property the district owns along Highway 47 a few miles north of Interstate 70 in Warrenton.

According to unofficial vote totals, 1,726 voters were in support of the initiative, while 942 were against. The bond measure needed a four-seventh majority for passage. 

“We’re super thankful for the voters and their support and helping us prepare for the future,” R-III Superintendent Dr. Gregg Klinginsmith said.

The district’s plan is to move Daniel Boone Elementary from its current site to the new elementary building. The current Daniel Boone Elementary building will 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.

The district’s current bond capacity is $26 million and will 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. 

“We will start getting to work on this,” Klinginsmith said. “We will work with our architects and start work on bid documents. That will take some time, likely around four to six months. We hope to have bids out sometime mid to late fall. We would love to move dirt once the crops come out.” 

District officials said the additional funding was needed to prepare for future growth and capitalize on funding available for expansion to its early childhood program. In the past five years, the district’s enrollment has increased from 3,028 to 3,073. With more new homes already under construction – around 1,000 residential units have been planned within the district’s boundaries – that figure is only going to keep climbing.

“Every one sees houses going up,” Klinginsmith said. “We know the addition of three lanes on (Interstate) 70 will lead to more growth. We all see the need.” 

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.