Conway superintendent discusses school bond ballot issue

Update: Superintendent Matt Searson informed the Record Wednesday morning that after checking with the district's bonding company, the existing 2016 bond will be paid off in 2036 (11 years). Conway school district constituents will decide whether to pass a new school bond on Tuesday. Proposition Bear Legacy Bond, which would not increase the current service debt levy ($0.49) and borrow $2,850,000, would fund various facility improvements, such as ADA accessibility in the high school’s gym. According to the ballot language, the borrowed funds would be “for the purpose of providing funds to complete gymnasium improvements, including Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility, new bleachers, and new flooring; to replace windows and roofs; to repave parking lots; to implement additional security measures; to install a new early childhood playground; to upgrade athletic facilities; to the extent funds are available complement other repairs and improvements to the existing facilities of the district.” The district had previously hosted a town hall, published explanatory videos and added an FAQ to their webpage to inform voters about the upcoming issue. The ballot issue can also be found in the Record as well on the Laclede County Clerk’s Website. Laclede County R-I Superintendent Matt Searson explained that the debt service levy, which is separate from the $2.75 district operating levy, has been in place since 2016 when a bond providing funding for elementary school improvements was passed. The current debt service levy is 15 percent of assessed valuation of property taxes, according to Searson, and he estimated that if passed, the levy would be extended for around 20 years. Due to the complications of the existing payments on the 2016 bond, Searson was unsure how much time would be left for the levy should the 2025 bond not pass. For more on this story, see Wednesday's LCR.