‘It’s a need vs. want’ situation, board says

PRESCOTT – Prescott School District will ask voters to approve a maintenance referendum in February 2022, and school board members agreed it’s a need, not a want, at the June 16 meeting.

Market & Johnson and SDS Architects are refining the list proposed in 2019 down to “maintenance only” items, which could include such things as a new boiler, new roofs and updated plumbing, electrical and building envelope (tuck-pointing bricks and windows).

“We took a risk because we wanted to partner with the community,” Board President Mike Matzek said of putting off the referendum until 2022. “The board really took some very careful steps last year to not force something to the community that wasn’t ready to be accepted.”

However, that doesn’t diminish the fact that district buildings need to be maintained, he pointed out. Those needs are not going away. The district has been fiscally responsible, proof of which can be seen by its Moody’s rating of AA3, he said. Moody’s ranks an entity’s credit-worthiness, and a rating of AA3 is considered excellent.

Board Vice President Steve Sizemore said he wants to see community involvement and input, so the district and its people can come to a compromise to keep buildings operational at a price tag people can live with.

“It’s one of those things where we hear, you know, we sent out a survey last year and the survey said the community wasn’t really in favor of a referendum,” Sizemore said. “And then we make adjustments and then some people in the community will say ‘Now you’re trying to shove it down our throats and you’re going to do it anyway.’ I understand that sentiment. I just want to speak to that for a moment because I think … there’s a want vs. need situation we have to talk about. And what we’re really trying to do is get down to the need.”

Long-term possible needs, such a major remodel/addition, additional classrooms or new facilities or placement of amenities, are not going to be part of this referendum.

Currently, the tax levy for Prescott School District is $9,582,245. Of that number, $6,752,665 is the revenue limit determined by the state legislature (which could change once the new state budget is approved); $150,000 is Community Service PCR/PCE; and $2,679,580 is voter approved debt. The Prescott School District mill rate for 2020-2021 is $10.72, down from $12.43 in 2014-2015. Levy rates are shown in 'mills' or property tax dollars levied per $1,000 of equalized property value.

Referendum timeline

Spicuzza presented the following timeline to board members:

June/July 2021

•Refine 2019 itemized list so it aligns to maintenance only items

•Update estimates based on current costs

August

•Present baseline financial numbers (more will hopefully be known about the state budget)

•Continue educating and informing the community; form a facility advisory committee

•Market & Johnson and SDS Architects will present to the advisory committee, who will prioritize needs

•Staff comes back to school

September

• Public open house to demonstrate findings

•School board will give input at annual meeting

•List of options compiled by Facility Advisory Committee

October

•Facility Advisory Committee will report list of options to school board

•Potential survey sampling for input

November

•Findings revisited and discussed by school board to define possible resolution

•Absorb and react

•Schedule two board meetings: One with Baird and one regular

December

•Dec. 2: Two resolutions 1. Referendum 2. Amount

January

•Ongoing referendum educational campaign

•Visit known community groups (Chamber, City Council, Kiwanis, etc.)

February

•Continue educational campaign

•Vote Feb. 15

Other business

•The board approved open enrollment applications: 22 students will transfer out of the district, while 13 will transfer in.

•The approved the following hires: Rick Montreal, Prescott High School Dean of Students, out of 28 applicants; Andrew Caudill, Athletic Director, out of 23 applicants; and Megan Lisner, seventh grade English/language arts teacher.

•The board approved the resignation of fourth grade teacher Malia Wilcziek.

•The board approved the Early College Credit Program for PHS students.

•PHS Principal Josh Fiege updated the board on the Wellness Committee Tri-annual Assessment, review of the policy and consideration of accepting a new policy. The hope is to update the policy by August with more specific components, added nutrition education programming, and building wellness teams at each school building.

•During the COVID update, Spicuzza said 80 percent of PSD staff are vaccinated.

•Summer School is in full swing, with 200 PHS participants and 360 participants in grades 4K-8. Late registration opened June 10, at which time 18 students joined (after masks were made optional). Director Michael Kosmalski did not provide numbers on withdrawals, though he said he received a number of emails and “a number of families dropped out. He said he considered it to be “a wash.” He attributed lower than usual numbers (35 percent of students versus the usual 60 percent who partake) to families traveling this year since they were more restricted last year.

Graph courtesy of Prescott School District

Courtesy of Prescott School District

At left, this visual shows how the Prescott School District tax levy is divided.