Presentation Prop 4 - Rockwood School District

April 7, 2015
Paid for by the Rockwood School District – Dr. Eric Knost, Superintendent – 111 E. North Street, Eureka, MO 63025
Overview
• Background
• Long-Range Financial Plan
• Bond Issue
Paid for by the Rockwood School District - Dr. Eric Knost, Superintendent - 111 E. North Street, Eureka MO 63025
Background
Process began with our annual facilities and maintenance review, which
occurred early in the school year
• The review involves school principals, parents and the Facilities’ Dept.
staff
• More than $170 million in cycle maintenance and facility needs were
identified
“Regardless of these compounding needs, we have never, nor will we ever,
present our needs in a way to suggest the sky is falling. I’ve seen countless
school districts go down that path which ultimately alienates many who
would otherwise support their efforts. The true spirit of our profession is that
we will always do the very best we can with what we have, and in Rockwood,
we will remain committed to excellence, regardless.”
~ Dr. Eric Knost
Paid for by the Rockwood School District - Dr. Eric Knost, Superintendent - 111 E. North Street, Eureka MO 63025
Long-Range Financial Plan
After the facilities and maintenance review:
• Developed a long-range financial plan to address these needs
• Developed a proposed balanced budget for the 2015-16
school year, without further diminishing our human resources
“It is important for our community to see a
commitment to stewardship. It wasn’t easy to
create a balanced proposal comprised of
appropriate requests exceeding our target by
over $9 million.”
~ Dr. Eric Knost
Paid for by the Rockwood School District - Dr. Eric Knost, Superintendent - 111 E. North Street, Eureka MO 63025
Long-Range Financial Plan (cont.)
Next step: Respect our taxpayers by developing measures that minimized
the impact to our existing tax rate. The goal is to create a dedicated levy in
our operating fund to address cycle maintenance needs.
A “tax transfer” such as this requires a vote of the people, but in order to
do this without increasing the existing tax rate, we will have to wait nine
years.
• In nine years, we will pursue a tax transfer of 54 cents that will not
increase the current tax rate, while yielding $17 million annually for
cycle maintenance needs.
• In years 1 – 9, we will utilize bond issues designed to maintain the
current tax rate.
Paid for by the Rockwood School District - Dr. Eric Knost, Superintendent - 111 E. North Street, Eureka MO 63025
Bond Issue - Prop 4
• The Board unanimously approved a bond
issue for the April 2015 ballot.
• This $68.95 million bond issue will not raise
the current tax rate.
• Taxpayers need to understand this will extend
the length of our current debt.
Paid for by the Rockwood School District - Dr. Eric Knost, Superintendent - 111 E. North Street, Eureka MO 63025
Bond Issue – Prop 4
Please take some time to review details of
the Prop 4 projects. This information is
posted on the Rockwood website
www.rockwood.k12.mo.us/prop4
Paid for by the Rockwood School District - Dr. Eric Knost, Superintendent - 111 E. North Street, Eureka MO 63025
Technology for all schools
$12 million
• R
​ eplace obsolete computers
• R
​ eplace projection devices ​
• Replace aged network
equipment
Paid for by the Rockwood School District - Dr. Eric Knost, Superintendent - 111 E. North Street, Eureka MO 63025
High School Science Labs
​$10 million
Upgrade science ​labs in high schools for STEM
curriculum
Paid for by the Rockwood School District - Dr. Eric Knost, Superintendent - 111 E. North Street, Eureka MO 63025
Safety and Security
$2.3 million
• ​Install new locking systems for
interior classroom doors ​
• Update safety alarm systems and
replace panels
• ​Install safety film glass on school
entrances ​
• Replace aged stadium lights and
poles at LHS, MHS, RSHS
• ​Replace steps to play field at Kehrs
Mill
Paid for by the Rockwood School District - Dr. Eric Knost, Superintendent - 111 E. North Street, Eureka MO 63025
School Improvements
$16 million​​
• ​Implement energy savings initiatives
• ​Install synthetic fields on the stadium fields of the four high schools
• ​Replace aged tracks at the four high schools
• ​Renovate Eureka High locker rooms/weight room
• ​Replace exterior of Kellison to address water infiltration
• ​Renovate kitchen/cafeteria at Uthoff Valley, Stanton and CCL to
accommodate current enrollment ​
• Renovate nurses station/front office at LaSalle Springs ​
• Replace gym floors at all four high schools​
Paid for by the Rockwood School District - Dr. Eric Knost, Superintendent - 111 E. North Street, Eureka MO 63025
Annual Cycle Maintenance
$28.65 million
​Preventative maintenance district wide: roofs,
flooring, heating/cooling, playgrounds and
parking lots
Paid for by the Rockwood School District - Dr. Eric Knost, Superintendent - 111 E. North Street, Eureka MO 63025
From the Superintendent
“It will be easy to look at this effort with a critical eye while considering
your individual thoughts on what should or should not be included, or
how we should or should not be addressing our existing needs.
What I can assure you is that our process has carefully considered all
aspects while realizing the many perspectives which exist.
Bottom line, our needs are real and this is a sound, transparent and
accountable approach to moving forward. It’s not a one fell swoop effort;
instead, it’s a responsible approach that truly does stay focused on
helping kids thrive.”
Dr. Eric Knost
Paid for by the Rockwood School District - Dr. Eric Knost, Superintendent - 111 E. North Street, Eureka MO 63025
Need Information?
If you have questions that need answered,
please ask.
askthesupt@rockwood.k12.mo.us
Paid for by the Rockwood School District - Dr. Eric Knost, Superintendent - 111 E. North Street, Eureka MO 63025