Mason Dockter
SLOAN, Iowa -- The Westwood Community School District, hoping to finance the first major improvements to its building in more than 20 years, is putting an $18.6 million bond measure before voters in the district.
If approved, the 20-year general obligation bond would pay for the following improvements to the school building, 1000 Rebel Way, Sloan:
-- A 9,900-square-foot addition to the building's entryway, with a double set of locking steel doors for security, and new office space for school administrators in the front of the building;
-- A 5,400-square-foot expansion and renovation of the wrestling room and fitness center;
-- Remodeling the bathrooms to bring them in compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act;
-- Sprinkler systems throughout the building;
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-- Classroom renovations;
-- Kitchen updates;
-- Roof replacement;
-- Bus enclosures.
Westwood Community School District
Westwood Community School District Superintendent Jay Lutt posing for a photo in front of the district building, located at 1000 Rebel Way, Sloan.
Westwood Community School District
Westwood Community School District Superintendent Jay Lutt posing for a photo in front of the district building, located at 1000 Rebel Way, Sloan.
Under Iowa law, a school bond issue must receive 60 percent of the vote to pass. If the bond passes, the district -- which draws its 600 or so students from Sloan, Salix, Hornick, Smithland and Holly Springs -- plans to begin phased construction in May 2026.
The school building, built in 1989, is roughly 196,000 square feet; the expansions would bring it to about 211,000 square feet.
Superintendent Jay Lutt said the district is planning to borrow nearly $8 million against its future sales tax receipts in addition to the bond; in sum total the district plans to spend about $26.5 million.
"We want to protect our taxpayers as much as we can," he said of the district's plan to tap other funds.
In a further gesture of frugality, Lutt said the district plans to retire the bond before it matures. The district did that with its most recent bond, which was retired more than 15 years ago.
"We've set our sights to pay it off early, and that's something we want to do for our community," he said. "We paid our last bond off early."
Westwood Community School District
The proposed Westwood Community School District bond would add a 9,900-square-foot addition to the building's entryway, with a double set of l...
Westwood Community School District
The Westwood Community School District is proposing a $18.6 million bond that includes renovations to the science classrooms.
For a home in the Westwood district with an assessed value of $100,000, the bond would cost the homeowner an estimated $112 per year, according to the district's calculation. For a single acre of farmland assessed at $2,054, after the rollback is factored in, the tax to pay the bond would come to $3.99 per year, per acre.
Haley Strom, a Westwood alumni and parent of a Westwood third-grader, said she expects the property taxes on her home to go up about $200 or $250 per year. It's not so considerable sum of money, she said, in view of the need.
"I've spent that kind of money on a day trip," said Strom, a lifelong Sloan resident.
"I feel like the tax implications that I'm going to feel are minimal, compared to what this project is going to do for our community, and our school," she added.
Owners of farmland have in the past often opposed school bonds, and Lutt said the district has worked against the misconception that the tax would be levied against the market value of farmland. The tax would in fact be levied against the assessed value (which in Woodbury County is $2,054 on average), less the rollback, which produces a tax bill far lower than it would be if it were calculated on the market value.
"I think it's lack of understanding, with the taxes part of it, thinking the increases are going to be a little bit more than what they are," said Andy Clayton, Westwood school board member and father of four children in the school.
"We're a community of farmers," Clayton added.
Westwood Community School District
The proposed Westwood Community School District bond would add a 9,900-square-foot addition to the building's entryway, with a double set of l...
Westwood Community School District
A proposed $18.6 million Westwood Community School District bond would add a 5,400-square-foot expansion and renovation of the wrestling room ...
District officials have been making the rounds to get community input on the measure and to assuage tax concerns where possible.
"We've had great feedback from families about updating our safety compliance," Lutt said. The stoves in the school's consumer-science room, for instance, do not have ventilation hoods, and as a consequence, "we are written up by the fire marshal."
Lutt said he couldn't say whether the community attitude toward the bond is more positive than negative.
"It's not a daunting amount to be added to the taxes, but it is an increase," he said.
School safety will be much improved by the new entryway, Lutt said; it's a priority piece of the district's plans.
"That's a big motivator for us on this project, is to have the front of our building secure and safe for our staff and students," he said.
Westwood Community School District
A proposed $18.6 million Westwood Community School District bond would add a 5,400-square-foot expansion and renovation of the wrestling room ...
Westwood Community School District
The Westwood Community School District is proposing a $18.6 million bond that includes renovations to the school's consumer science room.
Strom and Clayton echoed Lutt on school security.
"We need to make the necessary changes to keep our staff, our teachers and our students safe," she said. "And, unfortunately, in this day and age, that needs to be a priority."
"Perry, Iowa, I think that was last year -- so, it's coming closer to home," Clayton said, referring to the school shooting in Perry, which happened in early January. "And that's definitely a concern."
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