Springfield school bond 'Proposition S' passes with higher margin than the last bond issue
A day after Springfield Public Schools cut the ribbon on the final project from the 2019 bond issue, voters approved the next bond issue in overwhelming numbers.
At $220 million, it is the largest bond issue in the history of the district.
Support for the ballot measure was strong from the start Tuesday. Final, informal results showed nearly 78% in favor of the bond issue — a margin of almost 16,000 votes — much higher than the 57% required for passage.
"This sends an even stronger message and it's very clear that our community hands-down cares about the safety and security of our children and educators," said Alina Lehnert, a co-chair of the Friends of SPS campaign committee that urged passage of the bond.
"When our community knows the needs of our children, it responds and that was abundantly clear tonight."
The passage means Pipkin and Reed middle schools will be rebuilt, Pershing will be renovated and reconfigured, six elementary schools will receive new storm shelter gymnasiums, and additional safety upgrades will be put in place all over the district.
Those include protective glass film on all ground-floor windows and doors. Security cameras and door and roof sensors or alarms will also added, where needed.
The Tuesday ballot question had a lot in common with the $168 million request from four years ago — which passed with 61% support.
The scope and project list for each bond was recommended by a Community Task Force on Facilities, which met for months to study facility needs, tour school buildings, and set priorities.
Both task forces, which had members in common, were filled with students, parents, educators and members of the business community.
"They were critical. Those individuals spent countless hours demonstrating their dedication through touring buildings, looking at reports, ensuring priority was placed on the high priority needs," Lehnert said.
There was no organized opposition to the bond issue.
The loudest voice against the measure was retired teacher Carl Herd, who served on the latest task force. He argued this was the wrong time for a bond issue and the district priority ought to student achievement.
Unlike the 2019 request, this year's bond is a "no tax increase" measure. It will be paid off over a 20-year period, but do not alter the district's debt-service tax levy for property owners.
A proposed bond issue in 2017 failed even though it garnered support from more than 50% of voters. It fell short of the 57% benchmark.
Tom McFarland brought his young son, in a stroller, to vote at Asbury United Methodist Church. He voted for the school bond issue.
"I support our local public schools and public schools in general," he said. "I'm hoping for a strong and functional school system when my son is of age."
More: SPS principals explain how $220M 'Proposition S' bond issue will improve schools, safety
What the Proposition S bond issue will fund
The bond projects include:
Reed Academy, new construction, $59.4 million
Pipkin Middle School, new construction, $53 million
Pershing K-8 school, renovate and reconfigure, $50.4 million
Safety and security updates, $6.9 million
Cowden Elementary, storm shelter gymnasium, $5.1 million
Holland Elementary, storm shelter gymnasium, $5.1 million
Pittman Elementary, storm shelter gymnasium, $5.1 million
Watkins Elementary, storm shelter gymnasium, $5.1 million
Mann Elementary, storm shelter gymnasium, $4.9 million
Wilder Elementary, storm shelter gymnasium, $4.9 million
Safety was the primary focus of the storm shelter gymnasiums but the additional space was also expected to give the six elementary schools more flexibility for physical education and music classes, and special events. In most of the buildings, the cafeteria also serves as a gym and meeting space.
The bond also includes $19.7 million to offset inflation related to the cost of construction, labor and materials. It will also be used to fund additional projects identified by the task force, if possible.
More: 'Big decisions to make' as SPS board weighs task force's proposed $220M bond issue in April
All the projects except one, Pipkin, will take place on the campuses where the schools are currently located.
The task force recommended the district find a larger piece of land for Pipkin, which sits on 3.1 acres along Boonville Avenue between the city's government complex, medical facilities and the Assemblies of God headquarters.
Last week, the district made public its plans to buy 20.9 acres at 3207 E. Pythian St. for the new Pipkin, The property is located on the east end of the middle school's attendance boundary, near U.S. 65 and east of the transportation headquarters for the district.
The sale price will not be disclosed until after the district finalizes the transaction, which was contingent on passage of the bond.
There are other decision to be made.
For example, the task force initially recommended building a new Robberson Community School, which sits along the busy Kearney Street just west of National Avenue.
However, given relatively flat enrollment and shifting student populations, the district asked for time to complete studies on both student demographics and attendance boundaries.
Those reports are expected to inform future decisions including which future projects — identified by the task force — will move forward with any funds leftover from this bond issue.
They will also help define the final scope of the Pershing project. The task force discussed keeping the building a K-8 campus or transforming it into just a middle school.
If the district goes with the latter option, elementary students currently zoned to attend Pershing will have to move to elementary schools nearby.
More: 'Friends of SPS' release long list of groups endorsing the $220M school bond issue
Who supported Proposition S?
All four school board candidates eventually supported the bond issue — Chad Rollins had initially said he was on the fence — and the following groups endorsed the measure:
Springfield Council of PTAs
Springfield Chapter of the National Education Association
Springfield Chapter of the Missouri State Teachers Association
Springfield Chapter of the NAACP
Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce
Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield
Southern Missouri Professional Firefighters Union
Springfield Public Schools Police Union
Greene County Deputy Association
Springfield Police Officers Association
Teamsters
Who served on the citizen task force?
The final list of task force members, which include representatives from all high school feeder patterns:
Bridget Dierks, co-chair
David Hall, co-chair
Mike Brothers, public relations manager, Forvis
Cheryl Clay, community volunteer
Tyler Creach, CFO, Alliance Capital Investors
Rich Dameron, educator
Janet Dankert, CEO, Community Partnership of the Ozarks
Mark Dixon, president, Bartley-Decatur Neighborhood Center
Melanie Donnell, educator
Craig Edwards, director of development, Bryan Properties
Jim Farrell, chief, Springfield school police
Emily Givens, development and investment specialist, Bryan Properties
Margo Griffith, educator
Josh Groves, educator
Brandy Harris, CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield
Carl Herd, retired educator
Tyler Holt, student
Sophia Leonard, student
Marshall Kinne, director of compliance, Med-Pay
Tom Prater, eye surgeon
Crystal Quade, state lawmaker
Royce Reding, CEO, Nevont
Joy Robertson, community volunteer
Tim Rosenbury, director of quality of place initiatives, city of Springfield
Keke Rover, director of diversity, equity and inclusion at Burrell Behavioral Health
Jacob Ruder, executive director, Springfield Council of Better Business
Teresa Simpson, instructor, Springfield Ballet
Mark Stratton, general manager, U.S. Baseball Park
Becky Volz, Springfield Council of PTAs
Jeff Wells, civil engineer
Paul Williams, chief, Springfield police
Claudette Riley covers education for the News-Leader. Email tips and story ideas to criley@news-leader.com.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Early returns show strong support for Springfield school bond issue
