St. Paul Public Schools $14 million bond issue fails

ST. PAUL, Neb. (KSNB) - A $14 million bond for St. Paul Public Schools to replace an old building and create more space for their students failed on Tuesday. Around 52% of voters opposed the $14 million bond.

The bond would have replaced the original 1923 building the district currently uses for classes, expanded their cafeteria, and created more space for their fourth, fifth and sixth graders. In addition, they would have moved the preschool to the main campus.

This is the second time St. Paul Public Schools has attempted to pass a school bond. An $18 million bond failed in March.

Superintendent Adam Patrick said this is a need to improve the educational environment, but now it's back to evaluating how to reduce cost and improve the school.

"The board would have to sit down and discuss do we want to purse a bond," said Patrick. "Do we want to wait a few years and kind of repair what we already have; maybe make some updates and enhancements to other areas. And just be very strategic about how we want to use our funds moving forward."

Patrick said they have cash reserves set aside for the 1923 building, the only question is that is this the right time to invest in the building? He said structurally, the building can last between three to five more years.

They will have to address a roofing issue and evaluate where they want to be in the next five to 10 years. Patrick has an idea of why voters were hesitant to approve the bond.

"I think it's just with economic uncertainty," said Patrick. "I think going into the election at the federal level there was a lot of wondering about how that may come out. What the effects of that might be. You know we're coming off of record high inflation not that long ago, thankfully it's coming down now."

Patrick said with St. Paul being an agricultural community and commodity prices outside of livestock aren't good right now, it's making people hesitant to approve the bond.

The St. Paul community also just finished paying a school bond for renovations to the high school entrance. He adds, now it's about working with the community to reach their goal.

"I think communication. Be very clear, be very transparent of what we want to do. Getting their input you know the pros and cons of this option versus that option. You know our next board meeting is November 11th, that's next Monday. I'm sure that'll be a discussion item, what to do with the short and long term facilities," he said.

Patrick said residents won't have to consider another bond issue for quite some time.

"I would not anticipate one in the next year or two at the very earliest. You know the thing I have appreciated about the St. Paul communities a lot of times this is a very divisive issues. These two times people agreed to disagree. You know the cost has been the driving force," he said.

Patrick said most people are divided by if renovations or new construction is the correct choice.