Leavenworth public school officials said Wednesday they plan to move quickly on construction projects now that a $57.8-million bond issue has been approved by voters.
Superintendent Kelly Harris said officials are in the final stages of selecting a construction manager. She said a timeline for the work needs to be finalized as well as renderings of the completed construction projects.
Voters in the school district approved the bond issue Tuesday with a vote of 6,191 to 3,817. These figures are unofficial because the election has not yet been certified by the Board of Canvassers. The board will meet Monday.
“It’s an exciting time for Leavenworth and our students,” Harris said.
Linda Larison, president of the Leavenworth Board of Education, concurred that officials will be moving quickly.
She said the process of getting a bond issue passed has been a long one.
Larison noted that school board members earlier had a plan estimated to cost about $100 million but knew the community couldn’t afford it.
The $57.8-million bond issue approved Tuesday will fund the construction of a new elementary school as well as additions and other improvements at Anthony and David Brewer elementary schools and Leavenworth High School.
The bond issue also will pay for a new athletic complex at the high school.
With the bond issue, school officials plan to go from six elementary schools in the district to only four. They plan to use some school buildings for other programs and sell others.
Larison said she was surprised by the number of people who jumped on board for the bond issue.
She said the busiest people in the community canvassed the district to campaign for the bond issue.
“They did it because of Leavenworth,” she said.
Supporters of the bond issue have argued improvements to school buildings can have a positive impact on the city’s growth.
The bond issue will result in an increase in taxes for local property owners.
School district and bond campaign officials have said the owner of a $100,000 home will pay an additional $144 per year in property taxes.
