Ames School Board Expects to Move Forward on $55 Million Elementary Project

expects to approve the language for a $55 million bond referendum to rebuild and replace the district's five elementary schools during its regular meeting tonight.

The board currently plans to replace three elementary school buildings — , and — and renovate and remodel and . Both Meeker and Edwards would be replaced with newer, three-section schools. Meeker would be built on site and Edwards would be rebuilt on district property along Miller Avenue. Fellows would be replaced with a four-section school on the same site. A renovated Sawyer would become a three-section school, and a renovated Mitchell would become a two-section school.

Where to place Fellows has been a point on contention. Some parents said they will vote against a plan that didn't include rebuilding Fellows on site and others have said they will vote against an referendum that doesn't including a school in Somerset. A 11-acre plot in Somerset on G.W. Carver Ave., was once considered as a location for a new Fellows Elementary School.

Tracy Di Marco White, an Ames mother to a 15 month old daughter, said in an email to board members that she voted for the last bond referendum because it included a school in the Somerset neighborhood.

“I voted for the previous bond issue entirely because it guaranteed that an elementary school would be built in Somerset. I will vote for or against a new bond issue on exactly the same reasoning,” Di Marco White wrote.

Other people such as Kathy Vannoy said at a November school board meeting that they liked the Fellows location because of its closeness to  and the Northcrest Retirement Community, which has allowed students opportunities that they wouldn't have if a school was in the Somerset area.

The elementary building plan for three new schools and two renovated schools is scheduled to go to a vote in April.

Voters will likely be asked to approve a $55 million general obligation bond that would raise property taxes by about $1.13 per $1,000 assessed valuation. Commercial property valued at $100,000 would see a $113 annual increase in the school district's share of the property tax bill. Residential property valued at $100,000 would see a $53.84 increase in the school district's share of the property tax bill.

Board members will also discuss when to build what, should the referendum pass. A school board facilities sub committee has suggested starting construction on the new school at Miller Avenue in March 2013 and then begin building a new Meeker in June 2013. Repairs to Mitchell and Sawyer would come next and construction of a new Fellows Elementary would take place in June 2015.

The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Ames High School multipurpose room.