Royal City seeks voter approval for bonds

ROYAL CITY — The Royal City School District is asking voters to approval $12.4 million in bonds sales to fund several improvement projects in the district.

A bonds proposal is on the special elections ballot mailed to voters last week.

“We believe that now’s the time to run a bond,” said District Superintendent Rose Search. “Construction costs are down and the materials are down, and we feel like we can get what we’re asking for at a reasonable price.”

The proposed collection rate is $2.21 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Officials were excited to learn the collection rate was 10 cents less than originally anticipated.

In December, voters finished paying off a bonds proposal approved 10 years ago. The rate was $2.32 per $1,000 of assessed property value, Search noted.

“So essentially we’re asking for less money per $1,000 this time around,” Search said.

With funding from the sale of voter-approved bonds, the district hopes to start a fourth, fifth and sixth grade school.

Ten new classrooms would be constructed with bonds funding. A gym, library and office area would be included in the building.

“Along with that, we’re going to enlarge our cafeteria,” Search noted.

The cafeteria would function as a dual-purpose cafeteria, with a stage for performances.

A new foyer would be constructed in the gym, including a concessions stand.

“The most important thing is, we’re going to have more bathroom space (in the gym), (and) more bathroom stalls for our bathrooms,” Search said.

At the high school, the music room would be converted into a computer lab and self-contained special education classroom. Music students will perform on the cafeteria’s performing arts stage.

Search noted four new classrooms are being constructed at the high school with the use of I-728 funding.

A larger classroom at the middle school, previously used for sixth grade, would be converted into a computer lab and IT office.

In addition, the district hopes to build a new district office.

Search said the district had about 50 teachers and 500 students in 1983.

“Today, we have 90 teachers and almost 1,400 students,” Search said.

She said the new district office is needed to accommodate a larger budget and grants, plus additional certificate and classified staff.

Bonds funding would also include a new stall at the district’s bus garage.