Last Thursday’s special board of education meeting was the second time the board met last week, once again drawing a crowd. The focus of the February 17 meeting was the auxiliary gymnasium/rec center project.
Five members of the school community signed up ahead of the meeting to speak directly to the board during public forum, followed by testimony from Business Manager for the Wessington Springs School District, Julie Kraft, regarding the financial picture around the project.
Concerns for and against project raised in public forum
Community members wishing to share their concerns before the school board vote were given the opportunity to speak during public forum.
Jason Kolousek, Wessington Springs High School Principal and Athletic Director took the floor first, handing a copy of the gymnasium schedule to members of the board, expressing the need for additional gymnasium space to accommodate not only athletic schedules but also P.E. class and indoor recess. “The gym is full, all the time,” he said.
He also explained that with an auxiliary gymnasium, more tournaments could be held to generate additional funding for local programs, also pointing out that all other schools in our region have the advantage of access to more than one gym.
Roger Hainy presented second and began by stating that the community is obligated to provide kids with a good education. He continued to say that while sports benefits kids’ health and well-being, education is most important. He brought up the subject of student athletes having to get up early for practice and stay late into the night due to gym scheduling constraints having a negative affect on school work and family time. He also stated that discussions around an auxiliary gymnasium have been active for the past 30-40 years.
“We are as close to construction as we have ever been,” Hainy said. “Let’s not kick the can down the road. The time is now.”
Unable to attend the meeting because she was driving a school bus route, Paulette Olson issued a written statement that was read aloud. She expressed concern about the size of the facility, indicating that a smaller version with less cost would serve the need for additional gym space. She brought up concerns centered around maintenance staff for the facility, supply chain shortages for construction materials, parking, accessibility and the need to support existing businesses in town that serve as venues for hosting large events and weddings.
Laura Kieser was the fourth person on the list for public forum, introducing herself as a Wessington Springs resident that has lived in the community for 22 years.
“We’ve been trying to get this gym built for 22 years. We need the gym, businesses need the gym,” she stated. “It brings people to town to spend money in your community. I work at the Dollar General and it’s amazing when you have a tournament how many people walk in that door. I encourage you to go for the gusto and get it built.”
Derek Zastrow was the final community member to speak to the board.
“In 2017 the school district voted no on a $1 million bond,” he began, “Now it’s $4.9 - 5.3 million. The school board is supposed to represent the same people who voted no when it cost half the price.”
Zastrow also expressed concern about operation costs to maintain the current grade school and gymnasium, the current state of inflation and how it might affect teachers and staff needing a cost of living increase. Zastrow questioned budgetary priorities, expressing apprehension over stretching the budget tight to build a gym resulting in teachers staff and academics to suffer.
Project funding sources
After extending the rec center/auxiliary gymnasium bid deadline to allow more time for parties interested in the project to submit a bid, the Wessington Springs Board of Education announced at its regular February meeting that two bids had been received one from C Eagle Construction and the second from First Dakota Enterprises. C Eagle came in as the low bidder with a $4,999,000 and $5,270,000 option.
At Thursday’s meeting, Kraft illustrated funding formulas for both bids that included $3 million currently in capital outlay funds already collected from taxpayers in the school’s account, $581,000 in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding from the federal government and $600,000 in funds raised by Build Springs. The balance for both bid scenarios would be made up by issuing capital outlay certificates with a 10 year maturity date and option to pay down/pay off within five years.
According to South Dakota Codified Law 13-16-6.2, the school board of any school district may issue capital outlay certificates to acquire or construct real property, plant, or equipment. All capital outlay certificates shall be authorized, issued, and sold in accordance with the provisions of chapter 6-8B. However, no election other than as provided in 13-16-6.3 and may be held, and the certificates may not have a maturity date in excess of twenty years from the date of issuance.
Kraft continued to explain that last September, the school asked taxpayers for $1.2 million, which is not the maximum the school district could have asked for. She stated in the meeting that the school district does its best to not “max out” taxes within the district.
Kraft projected a 10 year budget with the above funding scenario, explaining that she added increases in various areas to account for future increases in costs. She then explained the $5.27 million bid with $1.5 million in capital outlay certificates could be done.
After several questions regarding the financial picture and with no further discussion, school board member Chris Schimke made a motion to award the $5.27 million bid to C Eagle Construction and using $1.5 million in capital outlay certificates. The motion was seconded by Amber Kolousek. The vote was conducted by roll call with Chris Schimke, Jim Burg, Amber Kolousek, Jen Jensen, Jacki Bultsma voting aye. Dustin Weber voted nay.