Less than three weeks before voters head to the polls, roughly 100 Twin Rivers R-10 staff and district citizens attended a public meeting Wednesday evening to ask questions regarding Proposition K.I.D.S.
If passed, the proposition will increase the operating tax levy ceiling by $1.15 until 2037, or as soon as the debt is paid off.
Superintendent Jeremy Siebert explained the proposed tax increase will bring in around $10.9 million to construct a new high school and pay for already completed districtwide improvements.
Representatives from CTS Group and L.J. Hart and Company were on hand at Twin Rivers High School, along with logistics committee members and Siebert to answer questions ranging from proposed building plans to the financial aspects of the potential high school building project.
"Whether you're for or against it or still undecided, we want to make sure you get the information," Siebert said. "We certainly don't want people voting on misinformation."
Siebert referenced hearing citizens concerned the proposed new high school would be built across the highway from the current school, but he quickly said that is untrue.
The proposed new high school would be built to the southeast of the current high school. The plan is to keep the greenhouse in its current location and demolish the house on the corner of the lot.
If passed, fifth through eighth grades would come to Broseley from the Fisk and Qulin campuses.
The operating tax levy would go from $3.0279, currently, to $4.1779 per $100 of assessed valuation starting in the 2018 tax year.
When asked during the meeting what the final cost estimate of the proposed new high school would be, representatives from CTS group said that would come by the end of June, if the measure passes.
The initial estimated cost of the school with 18 classrooms was between $8.5 and $9.4 million, Siebert said. Since the project began, five more classrooms have been added as well as increasing the size of the gymnasium.
If the project comes in over the budgeted $10.9 million, Siebert said they can begin to "scale back" on the project.
If Proposition K.I.D.S. does not pass, Siebert said the $1.9 million in improvements can still be covered from the budget.
"We would not have spent the money if we couldn't pay for it," Siebert said. "If it passes or not, we are financially safe."
After completing $1.9 million in districtwide improvements, it was asked why a new high school was needed.
Siebert replied his hopes were to be able to add preschools at Qulin and Fisk in the remaining buildings.
With fifth through eighth grade students leaving Fisk, Siebert said this would allow the classes to "spread out" more as well as provide a practice gym at Qulin in the current middle school gym.
While all proposals are only suggestions, Siebert said finality will be decided by the school board with input from the administration and staff.
High School Counselor and Logistics Committee member Christina Miller believes a preschool option would be huge for the district and kindergarten students would enter school on a "level playing field."
Along with educational opportunities for the younger children of the district, Siebert said a new high school would allow for the opportunity to offer more elective classes for junior high students in collaboration with being in the same location as grades nine through 12.
This could include algebra I, Future Farmers of America, Family and Consumer Sciences and shop for advanced students, particularly eighth grade.
Allison Ham, who teaches seventh grade English at the Fisk campus, spoke about the importance of collaborating with other teachers on curriculum to help better prepare students for future grade levels.
Ham said she often consults with the eighth grade English teacher, who is in the same building as her, to find out what students are struggling with so she can make amendments.
"It's so easy to have that access," Ham said. "I know immediately I need to change my method or curriculum."
As the teachers who are preparing students for high school, Ham added having those teachers in the same building would help even more.
"I'm still on the fence about it (Proposition K.I.D.S.) and I'm not totally there," Ham said. "But when it comes to my kids at school, the pros for academics and getting them on the same playing field outweighs the negatives for me at this point."
Miller also added she thought bringing the teachers together would allow for smoother transitions from grade to grade.
"We have super powers at each campus and getting together, I think, would be really remarkable academically," Miller said.
While some parents were concerned with the combination of mixing younger children with high school students, Siebert said bell schedules could be staggered so middle and high school students are not in the hallways at the same times.
Separate breakfast and lunch shifts could also coordinate the younger children eating before the high school students.
"Right now we have kindergarten through eighth grade at Fisk, so we have a wide age range there," Siebert said. "I think the benefits of having seventh and eighth with access to high school electives far outweigh the negatives."
With the additional estimated 300 students on the Broseley campus, concerns were heard about feeding that many children in one cafeteria in a timely manner.
The logistics committee found lunch could begin around 10:40 a.m. and be completed by 12:30 p.m. with three to four lunch shifts at 20 minutes each.
Breakfast probabilities could include middle school students eating breakfast upon arriving to school and several options are being considered for high school breakfast including "grab and go" or eating after first hour.
If the proposition passes, this would allow the district to close the Qulin Middle School cafeteria.
According to Siebert, this would save the district an estimated $50,000 in food service each year by reducing the number of district cafeterias from four to three.
"You probably can't find another district our size that even runs three cafeterias," Siebert said.
Before the meeting began, tours were given of the current B and C Buildings in the high school for staff members and citizens.
Logistics committee member and Qulin Principal Seth McBroom along with Miller showed several middle school teachers some of the proposed plans for the building.
"We set up the tours to let everyone see what the building looks like," McBroom said. "We thought it was a good idea to show the middle school staff the rooms and their potential."
Blue signs were placed at the entrance of each room to visually show there would be enough room for everyone, Miller said. The signs included the possible use of the room and square footage.
The logistics committee arranged for the majority of fifth and sixth grade classrooms to possibly be in the C Building, seventh and eighth grade in the B Building and high school in the proposed new building, McBroom said.
Chelsea Miller, fifth through eighth grade Special Education teacher at Qulin, said the tour made her feel better about the potential move and the possibilities.
"Everything is potential at this point, but it's a good set up," Miller said. "I feel like the tour answered a lot of questions and was a great idea."
The final question and answer meeting for the public will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. this evening at Twin Rivers High School.
If anyone has questions about the proposition or plans, they may call Siebert at 573-328-4321, email TRPropKids@tr10.us, or check out the Twin Rivers Proposition K.I.D.S. Facebook page and Twin Rivers RX SD Twitter page.