-Sun Courier File Photo

Last Tuesday evening (June 14), the Gladbrook-Reinbeck Facilities Task Force presented its recommendation to the school board for addressing the school district’s facility needs.

The task force recommends that the board place a bond issue question on the ballot for September 13, 2022. This question, if approved, would enable the district to address its most pressing needs at both campuses, including upgrades to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, a gym expansion at the Junior/Senior High School, classroom additions at the elementary school and secured entries at both buildings. The plan also calls for making every restroom and floor level handicap accessible, including the addition of an elevator.

The recommendation comes after a months-long process through which the task force examined the district’s facility needs and considered various solutions. The feedback provided through a community-wide survey guided the work of the task force.

“We would like to thank our Facilities Task Force members for their incredible work to analyze the facility needs throughout our schools, prioritize those needs and develop a fiscally sound recommendation to the School Board,” Erik Smith, Superintendent, said. “The work of this task force, combined with the input provided through our community survey, has allowed us to move forward with a truly community-driven process to find solutions to our most significant facility needs at both campuses.”

An approved bond would have a property tax impact of $199.58 annually (16.63 per month) on a home assessed at $100,000, or for ag land, anywhere from $5.36 to $6.62 per acre annually depending on where you live (Tama, Black Hawk, Grundy or Marshall County). Gladbrook-Reinbeck currently has the 29th lowest tax levy rate in Iowa, out of more than 320 school districts. If the bond is approved, the district’s tax levy rate would still be lower than 143 other Iowa school districts.

As a next step, a petition will be circulated in the community. If enough signatures are collected, the board may choose to approve a question for the ballot at its July 12 meeting.

For more information on the district’s needs and the recommendation of the task force, please visit https://www.grcsdplanning.org.