$51-Million Bond Issue Fails in Johnston: 2012 Year in Review

Editor's Note: As the year winds down, Johnston Patch is looking back at some of the stories that made you talk, cry, laugh or just scratch your head. This story first ran Sept. 11, 2012.

UPDATE: Since the bond issue failed in September, the Johnston Community School District, along with the Board of Education, teachers and community members, have continued to work toward a plan for future facilities.

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It was a close race at the polls, but it looks like it's back to the drawing board for the Johnston School District.

Voters in the Johnston school district failed to approve a $51-million bond levy that would go toward building a new high school.

The bond issue failed with 55.35 percent approval, or 2,684 votes yes, according to unofficial results form the Polk County Auditors Office. The bond needed a 60 percent approval to pass.

The bond received 2,165 no votes, or 44.65 percent of the vote.

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The bond issue was just one part of a $122.3 million facilities project that includes building a new high school, renovating the current high school to house eighth- and ninth-grade classes and renovating the current middle school to house students from Wallace Elementary and a district-wide pre-school program. Wallace would then be renovated to house district administrative offices.

The district hosted more than 30 meetings outlining the facility plans including four public information meetings at Johnston Middle School.

Superintendent Clay Guthmiller told residents at a public information meeting last week that if the bond failed the Johnston School Board would have to determine next steps. Those setps could include  another bond election in April 2013.

Guthmiller said if the bond failed the distirct would have to continue to utilize modular classrooms at Johnston Middle School, Beaver Creek and Horizon elementary schools.

How do you think the district should proceed? Tell us in the comments.

Under terms of the bond issue, the tax rate would have increased to 99 cents per $1,000 of taxable valuation, which translates to $7.97 a month or $95.69 per year for the owner of a $200,000 home.

The 125 acres purchased for the proposed high school is located off Northwest 100th Street, between Northwest 62nd and Northwest 70th streets.

Based on approval of the plan, construction would have begun next spring and the school would have opened in the fall of 2015. 

See more stories on the $51-million bond issue and proposed new high school:

• Letter to the Editor: Johnston Area Education Association Backs Bond Election
• Letter to the Editor: Proposed Johnston High School is Needed
• What Could Johnston's Proposed $75 Million High School Look Like? Take a Peek
• Have Questions on $51 Million Vote? Johnston Schools to Hold Public Forums to Answer Them
• $51 Million Bond Issue to Be Decided By Johnston School District Voters

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