'Support was there' for historic SPS bond issue focused on middle schools, safety

Springfield Superintendent Grenita Lathan admitted Wednesday she is rarely rendered speechless. But when results of the bond issue election rolled in late Tuesday — showing higher than expected support from voters — she had no words.

Lathan said she felt joy and excitement upon realizing the $220 million bond issue, her first as superintendent of the Springfield district, was passing by a wide margin.

"I was speechless for a moment," she said. "I am so appreciative of our community and the voters."

Of the 28,882 votes cast, 77.6% were in favor of the "no tax increase" bond issue, which will add to the district's debt but not alter the debt-service tax levy rate for property owners.

Lathan said she "felt the support was there" in meetings and conversations leading up to the vote but still remained nervous about the outcome.

In an April election, bond issues must garner 57% of the vote to pass. The $168 million bond issue passed in 2019, which included a small tax levy increase, garnered just 61% support.

"I had an internal goal of 65% and to be at over 77% is outstanding," Lathan said.

Asked what message the high support sent, Lathan said it showed families "believe in Springfield Public Schools, they believe that we're headed in the right direction, they are concerned about safety and security for students and staff ... and they believe that our community should do what's right for the children that we've all been called to serve."

The Tuesday election came the day after the Springfield district cut the ribbon to celebrate the completion of the final project funded by the 2019 bond — a newly constructed Jarrett Middle School.

Previous bond results let community "see the good things that are happening"

Alina Lehnert, a co-chair of the Friends of SPS campaign committee, celebrated the results late Tuesday.

"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 Lehnert, a former school board president. "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 plus a slew of door and roof sensors or alarms will also added.

Lehnert said there were reminders even recently — a school shooting left six dead in Nashville last week — that it is critical to invest in safety measures.

The scope and project list for the bond issue passed Tuesday, the largest in the history of the district, and the 2019 bond issue were shaped by the recommendation of the 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," Lehnert said. "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 the success of the 2019 bond, which paid for all the projects initially included — and with leftover funds helped pay for a new York Elementary — was key to Tuesday's success.

"They did what they said they were going to do. They did even more than they said they were going to do and the community has rallied. They've been to groundbreakings. They've been to ribbon-cuttings," she said. "When you're at those events, the teachers, the parents, the students, the community members, they see the good things that are happening and it is obvious that they want to see that continue."

There was no organized opposition to the board. The loudest voice against the bond was retired teacher Carl Herd, who served on the task force. He argued, among other things, that this was the wrong time for a bond.

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 projects included in the bond issue:

• 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.

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.

More: 'Big decisions to make' as SPS board weighs task force's proposed $220M bond issue in April

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: SPS superintendent 'speechless' over high support for bond issue