Royal plans new bond election

ROYAL CITY - If voters will go along early next year, the Royal School District will be able to add $14.25 million in construction with the sale of $8.75 million in bonds.

That amount would allow the district to add four classrooms to the high school and 14 classrooms and a gymnasium to the fifth-grade pod to create a new intermediate school.

If that were accomplished, Royal Schools would change from elementary (K-5, including pod), middle (6-8) and high school (9-12) to K-3 elementary, 4-6 intermediate, 7-8 middle and high school.

The School Board will ask for a construction bonds election on Feb. 12. If it passes, the district will sell bonds to raise the $8.75 million.

"We need the space. Our enrollment continues to grow," Superintendent Rose Search said. "We have one of the largest elementaries (763 students) in the state."

The bonds would be retired over 10 or 15 years at an interest rate of 3.38 or 3.21 percent. In the 15-year plan, it would cost the owner of a $100,000 home $119 per year in added property tax. Over ten years, the cost would be $207.

According to Search, the Royal School District has been reclassified a K-8 system from K-12. That means there is less space per K-8 student than in the past.

That causes a funding formula to kick in that produces $4.4 million in state support compared to $1.5 million in the past. In addition, the district has saved $1.1 million toward new construction, which brings the total to $14.25 million if the election passes.

This 20-classroom plan is more aggressive than past plans. It will meet district needs several years into the future, according to district officials.

"People (at facilities committee meetings) asked about that," said business manager David Andra. "They didn't want us to come back with another election right away."

The district has a sketch of the construction plan. You may view it and comment by calling the district office.

"Nothing is set in stone," Search said.

This plan came out of half a dozen or so facilities meetings during the year. There will additional planning and informational meetings through the fall and winter.

Persons who seek information may call Search or Andra or any of the school board members. They are Bonney Brown, 346-9260; Bob Murphy, 346-9261; Craig Janett, 346-2620; Michael Noftle, 346-1888 and Mike Scroggins, 346-9742.