The Papillion-La Vista school board plans to develop a list of projects for a potential bond issue and present it for community comment in April.
If history is a guide, the list undoubtedly will change after the public weighs in, board members said at Monday night's meeting.
The last bond issue proposed by the board doubled in cost as residents lobbied to include more projects. Voters approved it in 2006 — when, of course, the economy was roaring along.
Superintendent Rick Black told board members they can pull the plug on the bond issue if the public's signal is that now is not the time.
“At any time, this process can be halted by the board,” he said.
An initial project list for a November referendum is taking shape, topped by a new junior high school and another elementary school at a total cost of approximately $36 million, excluding land. Also in the mix are the renovation of several schools, including improving the line-of-sight security at some buildings, and installation of computer cabling.
Another project won some support among board members Monday: adding visitor parking at the Papillion-La Vista South High School stadium.
Board member Valerie Fisher said a lack of parking close to the visitor entrance is a hardship for the elderly and disabled who must walk from the home-side parking area around the field.
“That's a long haul,” Fisher said.
Black said his staff will develop cost estimates for the projects as well as enrollment projections for how the proposed new schools would affect the number of students at existing schools.
Of particular importance, he said, would be the impact of the junior high.
A new pool for high school swimmers, suggested as a possibility last month, was dismissed by two board members as unnecessary right now.
A pool isn't a priority given the cost and the number of students served, said Patricia Conway Boyd.
District residents could have different priorities, board members said.
The time line calls for developing an initial proposal by March 26. Staff members, parents and district residents would review the proposal during April and May. Based on their input, the proposal would be further refined and a formal community survey conducted in late spring.
Survey results would be given in July to the board, which would decide whether to proceed with a November election.
Contact the writer: 402-444-1077, joe.dejka@owh.com
Copyright ©2012 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
