This illustration depicts a new track, field house and updated football field that would be funded by a proposed levy in the Triad School District. On Thursday, the board of education moved to approve a 2-mill levy for the Nov. 5 ballot, 1.75 mill of which would be used to fund the athletic facilities project.
(Illustration submitted)
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Voters will see a new levy on this November’s ballot.
On Thursday, the Triad Board of Education voted to approve a bond issue and additional tax levy for school improvement projects.
Triad Local Schools Superintendent Vickie Hoffman said the majority of the proposed funds would be used toward athletic facility projects and a portion would be used to increase safety throughout the district.
The board moved to issue bonds worth $3.89 million which will be paid at an interest rate of 4.1%. As a result, the board voted to put before voters an additional tax of $0.025 for each $100 of valuation.
The levy consists of two parts. The first is a 1.75-mill bond levy, which would last 20-30 years depending on project costs. The second is a 0.25-mill permanent improvement levy that would be continuous.
Funds from the bond levy would be used for new athletic facilities. Projects would include regrading the football field, installing an eight-lane track, constructing a new field house and renovating the current field house to match. The levy would also fund new track and field lighting, a sound system, a scoreboard and ADA compliant bleachers.
All athletic projects would occur in the same location as the current Triad High School football field.
Aside from these facility improvements, Hoffman said levy funding would be used to eliminate the pay-to-participate fee for athletes, which is $60 per season. She said she hopes this would allow any interested student to participate in athletics, regardless of the family’s ability to pay.
The continuous improvement levy will be used to fund safety and security initiatives. Hoffman said there is “a long list” of potential improvements, which could include security entrances, safety kits and voice alerting systems in each building.
For instance, Hoffman said the schools need more secure entrances because there isn’t currently a vetting process for visitors entering the building. She said this allows students to open the doors for visitors, giving them access to the entire building.
“Once you get buzzed in, you have access to everyone,” Hoffman said.
Hoffman said the proposed projects are a continuation of what is already being done at the schools. Voters most recently passed a 2-mill, 20-year bond issue in 2002, so tax collections from it will expire in 2022. Therefore, she said the school board is proposing a new 2 mill levy to extend the work from the previous one.
“You can’t renew a levy so this will appear as a new one, even though what we’re asking voters to do is just continue the other one,” Hoffman said.
As a result, if the ballot issue is passed, tax collections would not start until January 2023.
Hoffman said the actual ballot will be available to voters in July so they may view it before the November election. She also said she has about 20 community meetings scheduled that local individuals can attend to discuss the levy.