Monticello schools ask voters for $22 million toward new buildings, upgrades

MONTICELLO - For the first time in nearly two decades, the Monticello Community School District is turning to voters for approval of millions of dollars worth of work.

Voters will consider a $22 million bond referendum on September 8 that would lead to a property tax increase for people within the district.

The superintendent said, if approved, the bond will cost residents an extra $3.67 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

School leaders said the district has a list of needed renovations and expansions on buildings that its keeping, but also has big plans for new construction.

The district wants to sell or tear down the two elementary schools in town: Carpenter and Shannon. Then, officials plan to build and connect a new 6th through 8th grade middle school to the current high school. The superintendent said the middle school students will have their own space.

Once that is finished, they'll tear down the oldest portion of the current middle school and build a Preschool through 5th grade building at that location.

School leaders said if people look around they will see that there are issues.

Bob Abeling, for one, knows the ins and outs of the old middle school, but even the man who has worked with the district for 25 years struggles to open a few doors.

Some areas are closed off where walls are crumbling and old equipment is sitting around.

'They had big fans in here back when the buildings were first built,” Abeling said.

The superintendent listed off a number of issues with the old middle school, including a boiler system that isn't working correctly and limits on the amount of technology it can handle.

'We've maxed our electrical usage at the middle school. We can't plug in one more computer without sinking some serious dollars into electrical work,” said Superintendent Chris Anderson.

The district's plan includes tearing down the oldest portion of the middle school, which was built in 1923. The plan also means emptying the two elementary schools.

District leaders said their plan would help with education needs and would leave behind maintenance issues.

'The three current buildings that we are talking about eliminating - they aren't up to fire code, they don't meet the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements,” Anderson said.

The district is now spreading the word about the Sept. 8 vote. Community member Brittney Telleen is helping to inform voters.

'So far, it seems like a lot of people are on the fence, just because of the major dollar amount, but I feel like the more you talk to them and list the positives and negatives, talk about the increase in school enrollment and the benefits for the community, people are more supportive,” Telleen said.

If the bond passes, the plan is to have all of the work done by 2020.

Project leaders are holding a couple of community meetings for people who want to learn more or who have questions.

According to the middle school principal Brett Meier, those will take place on Aug. 26 at 6:30 p.m. and on Sept. 2 at 6:30 p.m. Both will be at the middle school.

For more pictures of the proposed work, click here.