Ord Talk

School Board votes to move forward with nearly $10 Million school bond issue

By: Dawn Skibinski

In Monday's school board meeting, the board unanimously voted to move the $9.8 million school bond issue to a public vote this fall. Board member Marty Petska presented an overview of the projects covered by the bond; including fire code compliance needs, the 1928 building remodel and new construction consisting of a commons area and practice facility. Many members of the public voiced their opinions to the board. Serious concerns were raised about the financial burden already being placed on the taxpayers of Valley County. Specifically mentioned were the new fire hall and the possibility of the hospital bond becoming the taxpayers' responsibility.

At this time, the board does not have a cost breakdown of each specific phase of the project because they need to get a finalized version from the architect, Jim Berg. When asked what would happen if the bond does not pass in light of the fire code issues which are required to be addressed within four years, superintendent Max Kroger responded with obvious concern and wasn't sure what else could be done.

The discussion on the new bond issue starts in Part 1 about 9:00 minutes in, and ends in Part 6 about halfway through.