Elwood to vote on $38M school bond measure in November

The Elwood School Board is asking voters to support a more than $38 million bond proposal on Nov. 28.

The board voted unanimously at its Sept. 28 meeting to put the proposal before voters.

The proposal is made up of two propositions. The first totals $34.5 million and would allow for health, safety and infrastructure improvements at schools throughout the district, including roof and sidewalk repairs. It would also renovate classrooms and add a science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics lab at the high school.

The second proposal, totaling $3.65 million, would add synthetic turf to the field at the high school, as well as a new concession stand, press box and outdoor restroom facilities at the main field.

The second proposal can only pass if voters approve the first one.

If Proposition 1 is approved, the annual tax impact to the average community resident (with a home with an assessed value of $3,800) would be approximately $221 a year or $18.42 a month.

“In the tax cap era it is difficult, if not impossible, to include large-scale capital projects into a budget without making drastic reductions in programs and staffing,” Superintendent Kenneth Bossert said.

For example, “The middle school needs a new roof,” he said. “The new roof is in excess of $3 million. If we included that expense in the regular district budget we’d be over the tax cap based on that one initiative.”

The vote is scheduled for 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Nov. 28 at the district office at Elwood Middle School, 100 Kenneth Ave.