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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Omaha school board has placed a $421 million bond measure on the November ballot that would go toward repairing old schools and, eventually, building more of them in areas where student enrollment is increasing.
The board unanimously voted Thursday to put the issue on the Nov. 4 general election ballot, The Omaha World-Herald reported (http://bit.ly/1zQJotG ). If the measure passes, it would raise property taxes in the school district by $90 on a home valued at $150,000. That homeowner would have paid about $1,800 in school taxes last year.
"This plan is by no means a Cadillac or gold plan, as I've heard from some people," board member Lacey Merica said. "There's no plans for cushy offices for the administration or lavish dining rooms. There are plans to build walls in classrooms in open-concept schools. There are plans to replace doors and hardware."
Board members also say that if the measure passes, they plan to put another bond issue of $377 million forward in May 2017. It's part of a two-pronged plan to spread nearly $800 million in proposed construction costs.
Steve Seline, the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce's board chairman, has endorsed the measure. He said updating the schools aligns with the organization's efforts to grow the city.
The district's last bond issue totaled $254 million and was passed 15 years ago by voters. Those funds were used to renovate the district's oldest schools, such as Miller Park Elementary built in 1912. But since then, board members say some buildings constructed in the 1960s and 70s have become outdated in meeting technology and security standards, while the number of enrolled students continues to climb in the district.
"The reality is we've got 15 years of pent-up demand," Superintendent Mark Evans said.
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Information from: Omaha World-Herald, http://www.omaha.com
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