On April 2nd, voters will go to the polls to decide various local issues, including one the Kelso C-7 district and Proposition KIDS campaign committee placed on the ballot. Here is information on what Prop KIDS entails.

With voter approval, Kelso C-7 School would:

• add on to the building’s east side and build two new classrooms.

• lengthen the current parking lot, allowing for more space.

• make upgrades to existing facilities, if any funds remain after completing this construction.

If voters approve the measure, there would be NO TAX INCREASE. The PROP KIDS bond issue extends the current tax rate, and voters would pay the current tax rate until 2044. Currently, taxpayers are paying the current tax rate through 2041.

To summarize, your tax bill will not change if Prop KIDS passes in April. It just extends how long Kelso C-7 voters will pay that same tax rate, which would be through the year 2044. A ‘no’ vote does not take away the tax, for example. That was already approved by voters in 2021, and now voters will decide to extend it again.

History of Prop KIDS bond extension:

The district and the campaign committee informed voters starting in 2016 that a new Kelso C-7 campus and school building would need to be built in three phases: the initial building (Phase 1), a gymnasium and special education classroom (phase 2) and now: two more classrooms and an expanded parking lot, in addition to any other needed upgrades or repairs, if funds permit (phase 3).

Facts:

Our school population has increased yearly, as expected. At the start of 2024, we have 201 students enrolled from grades prekindergarten through 8th. We currently have two kindergarten classrooms, and it is predicted the need for two kindergarten classrooms could remain for several more years.

If voters approve Prop KIDS on April 2nd, the district would use one classroom for general studies and the other as an allotted space for combined Music/Art classrooms.

Currently, Music and Art are held in the ‘common area’ of the school. With more students and increased hallway traffic, there is a need for areas in our school where small groups may study and receive individual attention with their teachers and aides. If Prop KIDS passes, we would potentially use the current common space where music and art are now for that small group study space for several grades.

WHAT Can Voters Expect if Prop KIDS passes on April 2nd?

No tax increase-just extending how long you will pay your current tax rate. The total of this project is estimated to be $1.2 million. If passed, construction would amp up, with the hope the new classrooms are ready to use by the start of the 2024 Fall school year. If you drive by the school right now, you will see some fencing around the area where the district would like to add two new classrooms. The district is conducting surveying and assessments to prepare the ground. Again, this is so the classrooms will be ready for use by the First Day of School this coming August 2024.

Why did the pre-construction phase begin?

Urgent need for space led the District’s school board to approve a lease financing of $780,000 during the October 2023 Board of Education public hearing and meeting. The district needs added space now. Several community members attended this advertised open public meeting to voice their questions, and in the end---support---for the project. This action allowed the district to vote unanimously and start the planning and even the construction process immediately, keeping the project finish date for August 2024. The school took out a loan (called a ‘lease finance’) to start pre-construction, so classrooms could be used this Fall 2024. This was with the intent to pay the lease finance with proceeds from this bond election/ Prop KIDS. That is why you see some fencing up near the school in this preparatory phase.

To pass, PROP KIDS needs to obtain a 4/7 majority of the vote (57% YES votes).

Other Kelso C-7 School Facts:

Kelso C-7 New Hamburg Falcons School has grown steadily over the last few years, after construction of the new building as well as other key factors: more families moving into the district zone and new construction of homes in the district. A small portion of that growth are students who have been approved to attend school by the state based on guardianship, which is a common practice in most school districts. This population of students only makes up 13% of total student body.

Currently, voters in the Kelso C-7 district pay at or near, and in some cases—LOWER—taxes than neighboring school districts. Again, a YES vote does not increase the tax rate you see here. It just extends the time residents pay it and allows the school a longer time to pay off that lease finance.

What if Prop KIDS does not pass?

IF the bond does not pass, the District will pay the lease finance payments out of general operating funds out of its own budget. These payments would be the equivalent of a teacher’s salary the first year.  The following years, the payments increase to the equivalent of two teachers’ salaries. 

 It is safe to say, if voters vote no and do not pass Prop KIDS, the district will have the money to pay off its loan, but it could be at the expense of not being able to hire additional staff needed for our current growth or adding services and activities for students.

 This is the exact, official ballot language you will see when you head to the polls to vote YES on Proposition KIDS this April 2nd.

Proposition K.I.D.S.

Shall the Board of Education of the Kelso C-7 School District, Missouri, without an estimated increase in the current debt service property tax levy, borrow money in the amount of One Million Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,200,000) for the purpose of prepaying the existing lease financing that funded additional classrooms; to expand the parking lot; to the extent funds are available, complete other repairs and improvements to the existing facilities of the District; and issue general obligation bonds for the payment thereof? 

If this proposition is approved, the adjusted debt service levy of the School District is estimated to remain unchanged at $0.8500 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation of real and personal property.

 What other exciting projects are happening on the Kelso C-7 campus?

The bleachers in the new gym will be revamped and more seating will be added. Our PTO hopes to purchase a sound system as well. Our PreKindergarten could potentially be moving from the former building that used to be Kelso C-7 School and into the Father Shibley Hall, located behind the parish center in New Hamburg. Discussions are taking place now.

If you have any further questions, you are welcome to call the school office to speak with our administrators who will gladly do their best to answer questions or any of the Prop KIDS committee volunteers.