R-7 Board approves placing $11M bond issue on April ballot for high school expansion, turf practice field

Tax increase won’t be necessary

Bob Foos
January 12, 2022

Webb City R-7 Board of Education members voted unanimously Tuesday to request that voters approve their plan to borrow $11 million to primarily expand the high school and build a turf practice field.

If approved, the bond issue, which will be on the April 5 ballot, won’t raise the debt service levy, but it will extend the number of years that it will have to be collected in order to pay off the existing loans and the new loan.

The high school addition would mainly include new science labs, a fully-equipped culinary department, a virtual learning lab and additional classrooms to accommodate a greater number of students.

Cardinal Theatre would also be renovated.

The all-weather practice field would basically put turf over the old soccer field behind the high school. Uses would include physical education for high school and middle school students, band practice, athletics practice and junior high sports.

April 5, 2022

QUESTION

Shall the Webb City R-VII School District of Jasper County, Missouri, issue its general obligation bonds in the amount of $11,000,000 for the purpose of constructing, improving, repairing, renovating, furnishing and equipping new and existing school facilities, including constructing contemporary science classrooms, a virtual learning lab, and general classroom space at the High School; renovating Cardinal Theatre at the High School; and constructing a new turf athletic practice field for High School and Junior High sports and Middle School physical education?

If this question is approved, the District’s debt service property tax levy is estimated to remain unchanged at the current debt service property tax levy of $0.6800 per one hundred dollars assessed valuation of real and personal property.

In other action, besides discussing the COVID-19 situation, the board:

• Approved a resolution honoring the 2021 Cardinals football team for winning the Class 5 state championship. Coach John Roderique and several of the 23 seniors on the team accepted the honor. Roderique said he was very proud of their determination after three losses to improve and defeat higher ranked teams.

• Accepted the annual audit report, as prepared by KPM CPAs and Advisors.

• After executive session, approved contract extensions for administrators Tony Rossetti, superintendent; Kevin Cooper, assistant superintendent of business operations; Brenten Byrd, assistant superintendent of instructional services, and Kayla Cullers, director of special education.