Five things to know as Maize school board weighs $213M bond issue

The Maize school board is set to vote June 8 on whether to put a $213 million bond issue before voters next spring. District officials say the bonds could be issued without raising the current mill levy.

FULL STORY: Maize school board to vote June 8 on $213 million bond issue for new elementary, security upgrades, renovations to enhance learning spaces

Here are key takeaways:

• No mill levy increase is projected because the district paid off its 2015 bond issue in September 2024, ahead of schedule. The district is still paying on a 2019 bond issue.
• One of the largest projects is a $44.6 million “future-ready” Vermillion Elementary School, to be built west of Maize Intermediate School.
• The current Vermillion Elementary, which opened in the 1950s, would be repurposed as a community center with latchkey care and a community storm shelter.
• Renovations and additions at the district’s two high schools would total a combined $85.4 million.
• The bond would also fund improved school entrances for better security and controlled access, plus expanded learning spaces. If approved by the board, the proposal still needs sign-off from the Kansas State Board of Education before reaching voters.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.