21st Century Schools for All Children

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21st Century Schools for All Children
Major Capital Improvement Program

• Laurel School District

12/10/09
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Its up to you!

• The Board of Education has scheduled an election
  on February 10th so that the residents of Laurel
  School District may cast their vote for the
  local share of new construction that will
  produce
• Four new schools
• Renovated central office space
• New stadium and track

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Why a major capital referendum?
?The Laurel School District has not had a major
capital referendum in approximately twenty
years. ? The school buildings have out-lived
their useful life, and the State has determined
that it is more cost effective to build new
rather than renovate. ? Current classrooms are
NOT conducive to teaching students in the 21st
century. ? Current facilities are NOT conducive
to support the new STEM (science, technology,
engineering and math) program for all K-12
students
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Where will this money go?

• A new 700 pupil high school to replace the
  existing Laurel High School.
• A new 700 pupil middle school to replace the
  existing Laurel Middle School.
• A new athletic stadium and track to replace the
  existing Laurel High School athletic stadium and
  track.
• A new 1,200 pupil elementary complex.
• Renovation/restoration of the existing Laurel
  Middle School for the purposes of housing
  district office staff and providing space to the
  Laurel community to conduct public meetings,
  events, and professional development
  opportunities.

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Cost cutting

• Passage of this referendum will also allow the
  Laurel School District to experience cost savings
  in the areas of
• ?Maintenance
• ?Energy (electricity, natural gas, etc.)

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Middle School and High School
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Elementary School and Central Office
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Why is this referendum different from the one
passed in May, 2005?

• The February 10th referendum is totally devoted
  to construction of four new schools and an
  athletic stadium.
• The passage of the 2005 referendum gave the
  Laurel School District permission to transfer tax
  payer dollars in order to
• To expand the full-day kindergarten program
• To meet necessary operating expenses for energy
  costs, contracted services, and other employee
  costs (salaries)

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How much will it cost?

• The construction projects for this referendum
  represent a 137,036,300 investment.
• The state has committed to fund the vast majority
  of these costs - a 74 share representing
  101,406,008 - through the sale of government
  bonds.
• District residents will fund the remaining 26 -
  representing an investment of 35,629,500.

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How will it affect the property owners?

• This tax increase will NOT occur all at
  once. It will be phased in over a 6 year period
  and will decrease after that.

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Tax Rate By Year
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Tax Increase Per Year on a 100,000 Home
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Where and when will I vote?

• Laurel High School Library
• Wednesday, February 10, 2010
• 1000 am 800 p.m.

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Who may vote?

• Any US citizen, 18 years of age or older, who is
  a resident of the Laurel School District on the
  day of the referendum. (proof of age and
  residency is required)
• It is not necessary that a prospective voter be
  registered to vote in a general election
• Absentee ballots are available from the
  Department of Elections by calling 856-5367

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February 10th Referendum

• Laurel High School Library
• 1000 am to 800 pm

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To learn more

• Call the Laurel School District Office at
  875-6100
• Read the Laurel STAR
• Read Frank Calios blog at www.frankcalio.com
• Attend public meetings