Ankeny School Board Talks New Timeline for Elementary 10 Referendum

After a recent decision to delay a vote, the Ankeny school board is considering a new timeline for a referendum to finance the district's tenth elementary school.

The board was presented with the new timeline at its regular meeting Monday night, which could bring the referendum before voters on Feb. 5.

earlier this month, citing a need to re-evaluate district finances. also prompted school board members to delay the bond referendum.

"We still have a pretty good idea of what it's going to cost," said Ankeny Superintendent Bruce Kimpston. "We still have a pretty aggressive timeline, but we can do it."

In April, that would have asked voters to support an $18.5 million referendum on Sept. 11 to finance construction of the district’s next elementary school.

At the same meeting, board member Dustin Graber, who chairs the school district facilities committee, presented from the committee about the possible referendum.

Discussion originally started at the board’s March 26 meeting.

Kimpston said the proposed February referendum will be similar to the one originally recommended to the board. Discussion will start as early as the board's next meeting on Sept. 10.

Here's a brief glimpse of new timeline:

Sept. 10: Draft proposed bond proposition language and determine bond proceeds size to satisfy estimated project scope of work.

Sept. 17: School board reviews draft proposition language and provides input for changes.

Oct. 1: School board approves final bond proposition language to be placed on community petitions and ballot question.

Oct. 2 - Nov. 18: Petitions circulated for signatures. Petitions must be signed by 25 percent of eligible electors who voted in the Sept. 13, 2011, school board election. Polk County auditor records indicate this would require a minimum 1,752 signatures.

Nov. 19: Petitions are filed with the school board president. The board president calls a meeting to take action on the petitions and fixes Dec. 3, 2012, as that date.

Dec. 3: Board fixes a time for the proposed ballot issue. This date will be Feb. 5, 2013.

Dec. 21 - Feb. 5: Community education presentations and information meetings.

Feb. 5: Referendum election day. 60 percent of the total votes cast on the proposition are required to pass the bond.