The Dexter Board of Education expects to hold a special workshop meeting in December to determine how much to ask the public for in a school bond issue that could pay for district-wide improvements.
The board is considering projects that could cost, $15 million, $16 million or $17.5 million, according to discussion Tuesday at their regular meeting.
The effort could potentially add more than 40,000 square feet of new classroom and multipurpose space through projects at the Central and Southwest elementary schools, the middle school, the high school and the football field.
It would require either an extension of the existing 80-cent debt service levy, or an extension plus an additional 5-cent increase or 10-cent increase, said finance analysts with LJ Hart and Company of St. Louis. The maximum debt service would be 90-cents, they said.
The board has to make a decision by mid-January in order to put the bond proposal before voters in April, according to the discussion.
A strong selling point for any of the proposals will be how many buildings could be touched by improvements, said Anthony Hartsfield, of the CTS Group, which is assisting with planning, design and other aspects of the project.
The project could include six new classrooms at Southwest Elementary, for a total of 8,200 new square feet, according to board documents. Work could also be done to the parking area to provide another exit, onto South One Mile Road, and reduce traffic congestion.
A new multipurpose room, art room and music room have been proposed for Central Elementary, with 17,350 square feet of new space.
The high school could get work to its cafeteria and lobby area, with renovation of more than 6,000 square feet. A 3,000-square-foot expansion is also suggested for the vo-tech area.
Two designs are possible for the concession/locker room area. Option 1 offers a more than 6,700-square-foot fieldhouse and 2,000-square-foot concession.
Option 2 would increase the building to two levels, with a 14,300-square-foot fieldhouse and 2,000-square-foot concession area.
Extensive work to the track is also being discussed, including resolution of drainage issues that have caused damage, officials said.
T.S. Middle School could see an addition of almost 5,500 square feet. This could include new choir and band rooms, as well as other renovations and additions.
The board expects to continue discussing and finalizing plans at December meetings. A date for a workshop meeting to discuss the bond amount has not been set. The next regular meeting will be 6 p.m. Dec. 18, at the central office.