The Culver Community School Board opened an additional appropriations public hearing Monday, September 16 in correlation with a General Obligation bond process for proposed projects.
Superintendent Karen Shuman previously said conversations have been held with Baker Tilly and Ice Miller officials about a General Obligation Bond. She said there is a capacity of $3.3 million that the corporation could bond where it would not raise taxes. She explained that about $500,000 needs to be cut from the Operations Fund which would cut Capital Projects. A General Obligation Bond would allow the corporation to do several projects already proposed in the published, advertised and approved Capital Projects Plan.
As part of the process, an additional appropriations public hearing was held for improvements to facilities. The projects have been discussed for several months as the process has moved forward to this point.
Those projects, including estimated costs, involve HVAC updates for $125,000, resurfacing the track for $400,000, a football press box/bleachers for $200,000, softball press box and lights for $520,000, baseball field and lights for $620,000, ADA entrance to the Culver Elementary School stage for $30,000, improvements to the Elementary School Door U entrance for $350,000 and Door P at the Culver Middle/High School for $30,000, and a redesign of the Culver Elementary School Cafeteria and Kitchen for $1 million.
Renovation and construction work would begin in June 2025 with the anticipation of the completion of the projects in the fall of 2026.
There were no public comments.
A resolution pertaining to the additional appropriations was approved by a vote of 5-2 with Theresa Thompson, Amy Pugh, Jack Jones, Kevin Falk, and Matthew McCuen voting in favor, while J.D. Uebler and Mark Maes opposed the resolution.
The supplement to continuing disclosure undertaking and final bond resolution was discussed by board members where board member J.D. Uebler asked about the bond process. Shuman explained that a third party will advertise to bond agents to purchase the bond. Those agents will determine the interest, but the corporation has asked no more than five percent for this bond.
Board member Mark Maes expressed that just because the corporation can get a bond does not mean the corporation needs to do a bond and to exercise fiscal responsibility. He noted that some of the projects listed were not really needs, but wants. He pointed to the proposed sports facility updates and the cafeteria project. He noted that HVAC is a need.
Uebler commented that a lot of the capital projects are misaligned and that HVAC is a priority.
Shuman said that projects can be prioritized as final bids for projects are reviewed. Ultimately, it is what the board would approve. If it gets to that point, Shuman stated that whatever funds of the bond are not spent would go back to pay toward the principal payment. The projects are listed within the corporation’s Capital Projects Plan to improve facilities.
At the end of discussion, the final bond resolution was approved with a 5-2 vote with Maes and Uebler opposed to the vote.
