Northwest Iowa — Voters are going to the polls today in two of our northwest Iowa school districts to decide on bond issues for construction of school facilities.
In the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn district, voters will decide the fate of a $16.5 million bond issue. Officials say the plan is to build a new elementary school in Hartley, attached to the existing high school, with a separate entrance and a new playground; to add to and renovate the middle school in Sanborn, including a competitive gym; and to renovate the High School in Hartley, to add new wrestling and industrial tech spaces. They say that if the bond referendum passes, the overall school tax levy would increase by $1.55 per $1,000 of taxable valuation. Similar bond issues have been defeated twice.
In the West Lyon District, voters will decide the fate of a $2.89 million bond issue. Officials there say their plan is to remodel the industrial arts and vocational agriculture area, a science room, and the family and consumer sciences area. They’ll also replace 70 windows around the original parts of the building, replace some plumbing and ceilings in that part of the building, replace lockers for both elementary and high school, and put in an additional parking lot of 125 stalls. They say that if their bond referendum passes, the overall school tax levy in the West Lyon district would increase by 48 cents per thousand.
KIWA News will have voting results as soon as they become available this evening.
