The Bancroft-Rosalie School Board has been discussing building addition options. The Nebraska Department of Education has re-allocated Bancroft-Rosalie School $330,000 in 0% interest Quality School Construction Bonds (QSCB). This is in addition to $220,000 in 0% interest Quality Zone Academy Bonds (QZAB). The money can be used for remodeling and/or new construction.
Since the May bond election failed, the original plan to add a four classroom masonry addition to the north end of the school for $1.7 million is not possible. Any new project must stay within the $550,000 bond allocation of QSCB's and QZAB's.
Here are some options that have been looked at:
1. Remodel the existing music room into two elementary classrooms and add a modular music room/classroom addition to the north end of the secondary school. Estimated cost- $400,000.
2. Purchase of a used four classroom modular unit. Estimated cost- $100,000 (purchase price only)
3. Remodel the existing shop into two elementary classrooms and add a new shop building to the north of the secondary building. Estimated cost- unknown
I prefer option 1. Remodeling the shop and building a new one would be more expensive than remodeling the music room due to the large amount of electrical work in the shop. All the music room would need is a dividing wall and some doors. The false ceiling and heating and cooling are already in place. The used modular unit is suspect and the price for transporting and foundation work is not figured in. The music room/classroom addition would be attached to the existing structure so students would not have to go outside. The music addition would include two practice rooms and better storage for uniforms and instruments. There would be an additional secondary classroom with
option 1 for Mr. Peters social studies and english classes.
A modular building is not as durable as a masonry building, but we have to get what we can afford. And right now a music room/ classroom addition looks like a good choice. The 0% interest bonds would be paid back at a rate of 4 cents on the tax levy. The repayment will begin once the existing bond of 19 cents ends in December 2015. Which means in 2016 the tax levy will drop 15 cents.
