S/T School Board To Seek Approval Of $4 Million Bond To Build Classrooms

By Naomi Hatch
   After months of study and several presentations, the Snowflake Unified School District Board still was not sure Tuesday evening what direction to take concerning a proposed bond election, but in the end voted to seek approval for a nearly $4 million bond to construct much needed classrooms. A decision had to be made that day in order to meet legal deadlines to place a bond question on the November ballot.
   Board members have not taken the need for more classrooms lightly, nor have they ignored the fact that the community and the country are in an economic downturn.
   Superintendent Monte Silk said, “I’m excited about tonight, because tonight is decision night.”
   In backup material provided to the governing board, Silk noted, “The current economy, which projects a bleak employment outlook in this area, the rising cost of everything as a result of fuel price increases, and the difficulty of accurately predicting student growth may dictate a short term, rather than a long-term view when considering the number for classrooms for which you may choose to bond. In addition, the potential closing of the Catalyst Plant could have a possible, but yet unknown, effect on the bond issue before you.”
   At the request of Board President Travis Tenney and Vice President Shea Flake, Silk included three scenarios for classroom additions, which were the cost of bonding for 21 classrooms, 13 classrooms and 12 classrooms.
   If classrooms are not built within two years, the size of kindergarten to first grade classes will increase from 20 to 25, grades two to three from 23 to 28 and grades four to six from 29 to 35. It is estimated that class sizes will increase four to six students in each section.
   The adopted 2008-09 fiscal year expenditures budget combined primary and secondary tax rate is $4.40, with a $3.80 primary tax rate and a 60 cent secondary tax rate. The final cost of classrooms would be added to the $4.40 tax rate. It was noted that the average tax rate for the last 10 years has been $4.99 per $100,000 of assessed value. The secondary tax rate increase would depend upon the amount of the bond and the term of the bond itself.
   Scott Beck of NTD Architecture presented the schematic design for classroom additions. Beck ex-plained that his firm conducted a design esquisse June 3-5 for six school sites for the district. They had meetings with administrators and staff members to compile data to establish goals, facts and concepts integral to the project. Conceptual design sketches were then drawn by NTD Architecture.
   The second day was an open session for conceptual development and approval of results of day one sketches. On the third day, staff members and administrators were invited to view and approve final design sketches and programming.
   The schematic design package was presented to the governing board at the meeting.
   The 21 classrooms would include 72/3 classrooms at Highland Primary School, with the administrative office being moved and the old office being used for classrooms, six classrooms at Snowflake Intermediate School, and four classrooms each at Taylor Elementary School and Taylor Intermediate School.
   Silk suggested they eliminate 82/3 classrooms or seven classrooms as follows: Highland Primary would eliminate 82/3 classrooms, adding four, or eliminate seven, adding six; Snowflake Intermediate would eliminate two classrooms, leaving four new ones; Taylor Elementary would eliminate one classroom, leaving two new ones; and Taylor Intermediate would eliminate two classrooms, leaving two new ones.
   After some discussion it was pointed out that the cost savings would not be what was originally thought to be $165 per square foot because of much of the infrastructure that would be required no matter how many classrooms were constructed, so the district would save $125 per square foot.
   It was suggested that the additional classrooms at Snowflake Junior High School be eliminated, but that Snowflake High School move forward with the Career and Technical Education area of 21,000 square feet that includes a TV production area, computer repair and media classrooms, because these will be paid for mostly with Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology (NAVIT) funds. Because the district would be required to pay a small amount, this would be included in the bond election.
   Michael Lavalle of Stone & Youngberg gave the board information on a Class B bond election, includ-ing a $3 million bond with a five-year, seven-year and 10-year amortization, and a $4 million bond with a five-year, seven-year and 10-year amortization. The district has a bonding capacity of $3,955,000, so if it were to go for a $4 million bond they would split the bond sale. He suggested because of the unknowns due to the economy that district officials use the 10-year amortization, keeping the cost to citizens as low as possible.
   Silk suggested that Gary Simms be the project manager.
   Simms said because of changes made in his department he would be willing to do the project managing. He said he felt that because he is on campus every day and because they are classrooms he could oversee the project. Simms said, “I think we can do it internally.”
   Tenney said, “My personal concern was the fact that we go 21 classrooms and no one knows exactly what’s going to happen at the paper mill yet, hopefully there’s still a chance it will be saved, but that scenario with 21 classrooms, if some jobs would be lost, we would have classrooms sitting.” He noted that they know what is needed at this time and next year.
   Silk recommended that they go with the seven classrooms, but felt that with Highland Primary’s continuity of design and given growth he would like to leave the 12/3 classroom. He said, “To me at this point in time, closer to $3 million is better than $4 million in terms of public view.”
   Board member Cameron Peterson said, “When you look at it, the original cost difference for twice the classrooms, to me go twice the classrooms because the cost estimate is very minimal…If growth goes like it has been, we’ll be coming back in a few years to do more and we’d have a lot more cost if we have to do it twice…Yes, the communities are going to grow, but they’re not going to grow overnight.”
   Tenney pointed out that they could do 21 classrooms right now and have classrooms for a long time, saving the district money. “We haven’t seen construction costs go down yet,” he said.
   The board unanimously approved a motion to adopt a resolution ordering and providing notice of a special election to be held on Nov. 4 to submit the question of authorizing the issuance and sale of school improvement bonds not to exceed $3,955,000 with a 10-year amortization.