When voters in the Marshalltown Community School District head to the polls on Tuesday, November 5, the ballot will include a bond referendum. If it’s approved, the district will be able to preserve one of the city’s historic buildings so that it can continue serving students.

The ballot question, known as Public Measure OU, seeks voter approval for up to $57 million worth of general obligation bonds that would support a bold plan to gut and redo B.R. Miller Middle School.

Miller first welcomed students in 1925 as the community’s high school and has long been a source of Bobcat pride. However, the needs and expectations of public education have changed dramatically in the past century, and the school presents many challenges because of its age and condition.

District leaders invested significant time and effort in recent years studying the issues at Miller and debating the best course of action. This process included the creation of a community task force, engaging with residents for feedback and input, and considering whether to build a new school or invest in Miller.

The best option in the eyes of the task force and MCSD leaders was to modernize and expand Miller with voter-approved bond revenue.

Miller’s setting is among its top attributes. Approximately 70% of the school’s students live on the north side of the city, where a large amount of affordable housing is located. A new school would likely be constructed on the southern edge of Marshalltown, leading to higher transportation costs for the district, diverting funds that could otherwise be used for education.

The district partnered with INVISION Architecture and Boyd Jones Construction as part of our facility planning and assessment process. These professionals found that the “bones” at Miller remain in quality condition and the building has an adaptable configuration that lends itself to being modernized.

Another benefit of Miller is the existing resources already available at the school. This includes the historic auditorium that’s also used by the community, multiple gymnasiums, and Franklin Field.

Architects estimate that including such amenities in plans for a new school would have a price tag north of $18 million.

MCSD and our community also have a proven record of preserving our history and pursuing sustainable projects. Some recent efforts include Anson Middle School, built in 1924, undergoing a renovation to become the MCSD Administrative Support Center. The Marshalltown Coliseum dates to 1929 and was restored after a tornado ravaged the community in 2018. And the Marshall County Courthouse, originally constructed 138 years ago, was restored after sustaining storm damage from the 2018 tornado and 2020 derecho.

Bond referendums in our state require approval of at least 60 percent. The Iowa Legislature has also enacted rules in recent years, limiting school districts to seek bond votes only in November elections.

This means that if the bond is not approved in November, it will be another year before a new proposal could be brought to our residents.

The estimated tax impact of an approved bond for MCSD on November 5 would be $1.28 per year on every $1,000 of taxable property value. For a home with an assessed value of $200,000, the increase would be approximately $9.37 per month (or $112.43 annually).

The annual impact for agricultural property, based on the Marshall County average assessed value of $2,168 per acre, would be $1.99 annually per acre. More information about the bond issue, including answers to frequently asked questions, is available at https://www.marshalltowncsdfuture.com.

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Sean Heitmann is the School Board President for the Marshalltown Community School District.

He can be reached at sheitmann@marshalltown.k12.ia.us. The district educates over 5,000 students to have the skills for a rapidly changing world. Learn more by visiting www.marshalltown.k12.ia.us.