The Steering Committee selected to decide on a new Junction City High School have a tough job laid out for them – not so much the decision, but more-so gaining the community’s trust and support.

Hugh Davis, Executive Director of Communications for USD 475, said that the steering committee will tour the current high school facilities tomorrow to see the challenges that students are staff are facing.

“Something that I’ve been trying to explain during this feasibility study period is the viability of building a new high school and how that would be funded, and that’s going to be the steering committee’s decision based on the research and information they receive through these meetings,” said Davis.

The common misconception, according to Davis is that a new high school will automatically equate to a mil levy increase.

“Other districts in Kansas are doing the same thing we’re doing right now…there’s only a finite amount of money, and whether we use that money or some other district does – it will go somewhere; we just feel like this is a time where if we can get the state to contribute 48% of the cost with no mil levy increase, then that is a win-win for us,” said Davis.

Davis said that “without a bond the state does not contribute 48% of the cost” so a bond will be necessary even if there is no mil levy increase associated with it. The state wants to know that the school district community supports the venture before they will approve it; this could be simply a vote yes or no.

Davis said that this issue is time-sensitive.

“If we don’t get our bond approved or decide what we want to do this year or before other cities decide to do their bond, we could lose out on what the state could be willing to contribute – it’s a first come, first serve…so we’re competing with other districts basically; with the future of state funding  as we know, we may not be in this same scenario next school year,” said Davis.

With the monies already available to the District, Davis said that a 48% match from the State would afford USD 475 the $85 million toward a new high school project.

The following statement was released by Hugh Davis, Executive Director of Communications USD 475:

“The State will currently fund up to 48% of capital improvements through capital bond initiatives this year. If we do not call for a bond election, the State does not have to provide their 48% match. So in order to achieve our desired amount to build a school, a bond initiative is necessary even if our intent is to not increase the mil levy and just get the match.

The purpose of the steering committee is to come up with a recommendation and way forward for the high school.

Why now?

There is a cap on the amount of funding the State will pay toward bond issues this year, so we are currently competing with other districts for the same amount of dollars. It really comes down to a first come, first serve basis when it comes to bond issues.”

The Thursday Steering Committee agenda includes a Building Tour, Q&A session, and Concept Review to highlight programs, concepts, and budgets.