Nothing wrong with district's math
Nothing is wrong with Royal School District's math. Already crowded schools + more students = the need for more space.
If you have been in the school lately, you will understand what I mean. The schools have been feeling the squeeze for several years.
Teachers have been without classrooms, teaching from carts. There are hallways you can hardly walk through and students who have only minutes to eat before being rushed out by the next wave of hungry children.
Of course the school district has constructed and added on to our buildings over the years. We will continue to do so to create a safe and effective place to educate.
Let me say that the most of the school board, myself included, are graduates of Royal School District and own businesses in the community. We understand fiscal responsibility and, we fully understand the financial impact of schools in our community.
We serve on the board to ensure the district is responsible with our tax dollars. RSD lives within its means. We run a balanced budget. While many school districts struggle to maintain a 3-5 percent savings, we maintain 10-15 percent.
When the economy turned, we had planned ahead and were not forced to lay off employees like so many other districts. There was minimal effect on our students. In fact, our achievement continues to improve and outperform surrounding districts.
RSD intends to be fiscally responsible with the proceeds from construction bonds. The statement in last week's letter to the editor saying that we could build 252,000 square feet for the $8.75 million is simply not true. Believe me, if the district could build for less than $35 per square foot, we would.
This year we bought two "portables" built in a factory, and we are considering a full modular option of the proposed intermediate school. We do recognize factory built buildings can offer savings, but $35 per square foot for a school is not realistic.
To be fiscally responsible we also need to make sure our facilities will last. Red Rock Elementary is almost 20 years old and still looks great. Have you seen a 20-year-old portable at a school lately?
It is much different to build a school than a personal house. There are many additional regulations that we must follow. With prevailing wage, ecological surveys, ADA regulations, sprinkler systems, architecture fees, it isn't cheap to build a safe school.
Our budget also includes all of the furniture, desks, technology, library books, etc that are needed for a functioning school. We have made sure to plan conservatively so we have the money to build what we said we would. There is nothing extravagant about our proposal.
We are below local averages in total square feet and cost per square foot and we have been mindful to make sure that Royal's total tax rate would still be the lowest in Grant County and one of the lowest on the east side of the state.
With $4.4 million in state match, a tax rate of only $1.19 per $1000 of property value and record low interest rates, the time is right. If costs come in lower than expected we also would be able to use the savings to retire the debt and make the tax rate even lower.
If anybody has any questions, concerns, or input, I urge you to contact the district, myself, or any of the other board members directly.
After all of the spin from the presidential election, it is important for the community to at least have accurate information about our schools as they make their decision.
Bob Murphy, director
Royal School District