Middleton School District
Middleton School District

    New High School Bond Election -- September 18, 2008

    Question: 1 - How will passing of this bond affect my school property taxes?

    Answer: - It will not increase your school tax rate.
    Our School Board has been proactive on the behalf of the taxpayers, which will allow us to maintain a $4.45 School District tax rate (2006 & 2007) per $1,000 of property value, as explained in this paragraph. The high school bond proposal will pay for the design, construction labor, materials, permits, fees, equipment and all other necessary project costs. In order to generate this amount of capital (money) without raising the school tax rate, the $51.9 million bond will amortize (pay back) over 20 years or less, which in today’s bond market will ensure a very competitive interest rate. The new bonds will be structured around the District’s existing bond and will not increase the school tax rate. This non-increase in the school tax rate is due to: The retirement of an existing bond, refunding of existing bonds, increased market value, approximately $17.4 million of state subsidy payments (financial support -- which we will receive from the Idaho School Bond Levy Equalization Program), defeasance of existing bond funds, along with the use of available debt revenue. If the bond were not to pass, the School Board plans to maintain the current $4.45 School District tax rate per $1,000 of property value to allow for earlier payoff of our current bonds. Your property taxes could increase as a result of a reassessment of your property, but not due to an increase in the District’s tax rate.

    Question: 2 - Why was this particular location chosen?

    Answer: - Safety of the students.
    The location for the new high school (on the southeast corner of Emmett and Willis Roads) was selected primarily for the safety of our high school students. By locating the high school out of town, we will be able to close the campus and lessen the downtown traffic for vehicles and pedestrians. The City and School District will both benefit from the change in location of our high school. The School Board members considered several sites and found this one to be the best location for the high school as it allows ample space for the 60-acre campus and adequate access (six vehicular entries and exits) for traffic at the high school site. Ensuring the best use of taxpayer dollars for this purchase was also a consideration of the School Board. The cost of this site was well below other sites that were reviewed.

    Question: 3 - Is the square footage of the new high school too large?

    Answer: - No it is not.
    At 86% utilization the capacity of the proposed new high school is 1,500 students and at 100% utilization the capacity is 1,700 students. Student enrollment has been projected through the school year 2017 –2018 based on historical data and projected growth. Utilizing this information, we believe the capacity of 1,500 students will allow ample space for enrollment growth and give us at least a ten-year solution for ample classroom space.

    Question: 4 - Why are we converting the current rebuilt high school to a middle school?

    Answer: - To avoid overcrowding at all secondary grade levels.
    The rebuilt High School facility is too small to hold the amount of high school students we currently have enrolled. It will adequately house 725 students and we have over 850 students this year. By utilizing the three buildings (rebuilt high school, high school English wing and the current Middle School) the 6-8 grade students will have adequate educational facilities. The School District has a ten-year facility plan in place that is based on enrollment growth projections at all grade levels, full utilization of our current facilities and projections for the need of additional facilities. Our ten-year plan indicates that the opening of this new high school and the conversion of the current high school to a middle school will provide ample classroom space (utilizing all buildings) for our secondary students (grades 6-12) through the year 2020-21.


    Superintendent of Schools
    Dr. Richard H. Bauscher

    The Middleton School Board members recently approved the refinancing of our District’s 2002 Series Bond, at a lower interest rate. The refinancing of these bonds provides an immediate savings of $169,000 to our patrons and a future tax savings of approximately $1.57 million.

    This bond refinance will increase our School District’s available bonding capacity, enabling us to run a bond election for the new High School on September 18, 2008. With the passage of this new high school bond issue, taxpayers will not experience an increase in their school tax rate due to this refinancing, increased market value and a bond defeasance.

    District News

    Rebuild of the Middle/High School (4-01-08)

    Future High School (10-2-07)
    New High School Bond Issue and Proposed Construction Timelines (10-02-07)
    MSD 134 10-Year Facilities Plans


Calendar

5/13
Regular School Board Meeting

5/14
Staff Collaboration (Early Dismissal)

5/21
Staff Collaboration (Early Dismissal)


Quick Links
[High School] [Middle School] [Middleton Heights] [Mill Creek] [Purple Sage]
Website design, website development, graphic design and our Exclusive Content Management websites. PeopleAvenue.com is located in Eagle, Idaho and serves Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Middleton, and Caldwell Idaho for your business, HOA, subdivison, neighborhood, chamber of commberce, city, school district, sport team, Kiwanis, club, non-profit, or family website needs. All websites include Web hosting, domain registration and e-mail; we are a People Avenue — Web sites for Everyone!