Mail-in school bond election to begin for Turner

News Release:

Kansas City, Kan. --- Voters in the Turner Unified School District will soon have the opportunity to vote on a $19.5 million improvement project affecting all Turner Schools.

Turner USD 202 Superintendent Dr. Michelle Sedler presented a plan for these improvements to the Board of Education during a work-session held on May 20th, 2013.

Recent school tragedies related to school safety as well as district facility needs prompted her recommendation. The Board took action to proceed with the election during a June meeting.

The proposed bond improvement plan will impact every student and teacher at USD 202. Projects include:

• Safety and security upgrades to all schools including secure entry vestibules.

• New Oak Grove Elementary School on the existing site.

• Construction of a new cafeteria at Junction Elementary School.

• Updates to school library and media centers to support digital learning.

• Security, heating and cooling improvements to the Administrative Service Center. 

Pending voter approval, many of the safety and security improvements will be completed for the 2014-15 school year. Remaining upgrades and new construction will be completed for the 2015-16 school year.
The proposed project results in no tax-rate increase for the Turner Community.

This is possible as existing bond and interest payments decrease with the payoff of debt incurred during construction of Turner High School and the Turner Natatorium. Repayment of new debt incurred through the proposed bond solution will be structured to increase as the existing payments decrease.

This will result in consistent annual bond and interest payments which require a no tax rate increase for the bond and interest fund. Fifty-nine percent, or more than $11.5 million of principal payments for the new bond election will be paid by the State.

Postage-paid ballots will begin arriving in mailboxes of registered voters in the Turner community this afternoon. Ballots are due to the Wyandotte County Election Office on October 22nd.