Marshall said these facilities represent priority needs of the school district, based on a detailed study involving growth projections, existing needs and where the district needs to go in developing a long-range building plan. A limited bonding capacity forced school officials to develop a bares bones building plan. Completing the addition could also qualify the district's elementary school for North Central Association accreditation, already in place for the middle and high schools. Marshall said the lack of a library and computer lab disqualifies the lower grades from North Central membership. Dealing with the reality created by the lack of classrooms, Marshall said four classes are being held in portable buildings and do not have restroom facilities.
Students do have limited use of the middle school library and computer lab.
Admittedly, money will be tight in financing the package. Marshall said with every classroom in use every period throughout the school day, it is imperative the district start an on-going building program. Neither Marshall nor the board wanted to call an election unless there was a reasonable certainty for voter approval. Five new classrooms were constructed with the 1992 bond issue. That issue is currently assessed at an 8.31 millage rate and pays out in four years.