The Marshalltown Community School District will host an informational meeting regarding the upcoming $57 million general obligation bond referendum at 5 p.m. on October 23 and 29 at B.R. Miller Middle School.
The meeting will provide residents with an opportunity to see the facility challenges at Miller Middle School and the district’s proposal to gut, renovate, and preserve the nearly century-old school to continue being an education center in the community.
“We hope our community members will make time to attend this meeting and learn more about the facility needs our students, teachers, and staff face every day at Miller,” said Dr. Theron Schutte, Superintendent. “Reimagining Miller for future generations is a bold plan and it’s important for us to engage with residents and ensure their questions are answered before election day.”
Miller Middle School will celebrate 100 years of service to the community in 2025. An approved bond referendum on Tuesday, November 5 would allow Marshalltown CSD to move forward with a plan that includes the construction of a new education wing, secure entrance, commons area, kitchen, gymnasium, and administrative supporter center.
The school’s mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems would all be upgraded, and classrooms and other shared spaces would be expanded and modernized to meet current teaching practices and technology standards. Bond revenue would also be used to remodel the historic auditorium, gymnasium, and Franklin Field.
Bond referendums require supermajority approval of at least 60 percent to pass. The tax impact of an approved referendum would be an estimated $1.28 per year on every $1,000 of taxable property value. For a home with an assessed value of $200,000, this would amount to approximately $112.43 annually.
In addition to general obligation bonds, Marshalltown CSD expects to spend a portion of future one-cent sales tax revenue it receives from the state through the Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) fund to support the extensive improvements at Miller.
More details about the facility needs, architect renderings, and answers to frequently asked questions are available at www.marshalltowncsdfuture.com.