School proposal costs $8.1 million
By Tim Ruzek
*ews@postbulletin.com
LYLE -- Landowners in the Lyle school district would pay off nearly $5.7 million in bonds during the next 25 years if they approve plans for a new K-12 school in December.
The Lyle School Board received that figure Monday, along with an estimated impact on property taxes if voters pass a Dec. 2 bond issue for the proposed $8.1 million school building and renovation project. The district would sell $8.1 million in bonds, but the state has promised $2.4 million for construction. That would leave $5.7 million for property owners to pay.
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Lyle Superintendent Jerry Reshetar said financial estimates for such a project usually are on the high end to avoid surprising anyone with increased costs later.
Voters defeated an $11 million referendum last year.
Plans for the yearlong school project include constructing facilities that would extend toward U.S. 218 from the current school's north end. Older parts south of the existing school's gymnasium would be demolished, and some remaining portions would be renovated. The proposal also includes building a second gym and a media classroom, and relocating the ball fields and bus garage.
On Monday, the board unanimously voted for a resolution that set the date for the referendum and that said the district would need to borrow up to $8.05 million for the project.
Board members also tentatively set Nov. 13 for a public meeting.
Reshetar gave each board member a sample of a brochure he plans to mail to all registered voters in late October with a required notice of the December vote.
"The intent of this (brochure) is to ask the hard questions," Reshetar said.
Board members also discussed a grassroots approach to explain the new proposal to the public, such as going door-to-door in the district.
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Other business
The Profile of Learning no longer is a requirement for this year's senior class. The Legislature repealed the Profile of Learning in May.
"It would make things a little less complicated for students -- teachers also," Reshetar saids.
If the Profiles of Learning was retained, 14 of Lyle's 23 seniors would be off track for graduation in May, Helmbrecht said.
Even with the standards removed, 11 seniors might not graduate in May, Helmbrecht said.
In a move to make Lyle more attractive to businesses, the school board voted for a resolution seeking tax-free status for specific areas from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. The resolution also supported the use of tax exemptions and tax credits within those specified zones.
Lyle's application, which is being prepared through the city of Fairmont, is aimed at improving job creation, business development and individual economic growth.
The school board's next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 27.
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INSIDE
Different century, same choice-- Page 4B
