Statement by the North Nodaway Board of Education

Editor’s Note – On Saturday morning, the North Nodaway School Board held a meeting and drafted the following response to Jerime Bix’s letter to the Sheridan Express. It was signed by the other six board members.

The Board of Education of the North Nodaway R-VI School District writes in response to a Letter to the Editor from Mr. Jerime Bix, published by the Sheridan Express. Mr. Bix’s letter discusses Proposition PFK, which will be on the ballot on April 5th. While Mr. Bix provided this letter regarding the ballot measure and identified himself as a Board member, the letter provided by Mr. Bix does not represent the views or opinions of the Board of Education. Although Mr. Bix has a right to his personal opinion, he cannot speak on behalf of the Board.

The letter also contained numerous factual inaccuracies. The Board provides the following factual information regarding the topics discussed:

–The District is receiving $665,000 per year for the next 18 years from the wind turbine project, as long as the project continues. That money is part of the District’s current budget, and has been used to pay deferred maintenance, to increase staff salaries, update technology, expand educational programs such as adding drones and robotics, increase career technical education opportunities, and to add to the district’s reserves.

–If the debt service levy, the bond is set to be repaid in 2042; however, the last payment on the current bond is March 1st, 2024. The new bond will be repaid, at the latest, 18 years from the date it begins.

–The debt service levy, if passed, will result in a continued $0.59 tax on every $100 of the assessed property value, which is the current debt service levy rate. The revenue derived from the debt service levy must be used to repay debt.

–If passed, the revenue is planned to be used for the following purposes:

*Repairs and renovations to the District’s facilities in the following priority as funds allow:

–An addition to the elementary school to add preschool classrooms, a cafeteria, and an open concept library;

–Construction of a bus barn; and

–A security entrance to the high school, which will include an elevator.

–If the debt service levy is passed, the annual $665,000 in revenue from the wind turbine project will continue to be used for District operating expenses.

–Staff salaries currently equate to $2.194 million of the District’s $3.5 million budget.

–The District is anticipating a $200,000 carryover in the budget for the 2021-2022 school year.

–The District currently has approximately $1.8 million in reserve funds. This amount includes approximately $1.2 million in funds saved by the District prior to 2021, and approximately $600,000 derived from unspent funds, federal grant funding provided to the District through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund, which ends in September 2022, and funds from the wind turbine project.

The board appreciates the opportunity to respond to Mr. Bix’s letter. If you have any questions, please direct them to Board President Samantha Brown, the spokesperson of the Board of Education.

(Signed)

Kane Oberhauser

Jennifer Clements

Cari Cline

Vicki Riley

Samantha Brown

Tim Blackford

The Sheridan Express welcomes letters both for and against the North Nodaway bond issue. They do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Sheridan Express, the Board of Directors, or the Cooperative membership. Send letters to Sheridan Express, 205 N. 4th Street #8, Sheridan, MO 64486 or email us at express@grm.net.