Johnston School Voters Decide $41 Million Referendum Tuesday

Voters in the Johnston school district will cast ballots Tuesday, June 25, in a special election to decide a $41 million bond referendum.

The Polk County Election Office says that 1,428 voters cast early or absentee ballots as of June 18.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. A voter’s designated precinct location can be found on their voter registration or by visiting the Polk County Election Polling Places website. 

The measure requires approval by 60 percent of voters in order to pass. Money would pay for construction of a new 10-12 high school just west of 100th Street and north of 62nd Avenue in Johnston. Learn more about the proposed new high school here.

The district is also proposing three other renovation projects in conjunction with construction of the high school. Through existing sales tax revenue and physical plant and equipment levy money, the plan calls for:

• Minor renovation to Johnston High School to become the new Johnston Middle School, housing grades eight and nine
• Renovation to Johnston Middle School to become the new Wallace Elementary and a district-wide preschool
• Renovation to Wallace Elementary to house district administration offices and programming, such as community education

A similar measure came before voters in September 2012 and was defeated by less than 5 percent. Since September, the district has gathered community feedback and revised the design and cost of the proposed high school, as well as increased communication efforts to educate voters on details of the facilities plan.

“The district has worked hard to educate voters about the various components of the bond referendum,” Johnston Schools Superintendent Clay Guthmiller said. “This is an extremely important matter for our students and the district.”

For more information on aspects of the bond referendum, call the school district’s administration office at 515-278-0470 or visit www.johnston.k12.ia.us/Bond2013.

Polling sites are: 

Des Moines 11: Zion Lutheran Church, 4300 Beaver Ave. (includes Des Moines 10 and Webster 1 voters in the Johnston district)

Grimes 3: Grimes United Methodist Church, 801 W. First St.

Johnston 1: Johnston City Hall, 6221 Merle Hay Road (includes Johnston 2)

Johnston 3: Crown Point Community Center, 6300 Pioneer Parkway

Johnston 4: Johnston Evangelical Free Church, 9901 N.W. 62nd Ave. (includes Johnston 5)

Johnston 6: Johnston Public Library, 6700 Merle Hay Road (includes Jefferson 1)

Urbandale 2: Urbandale Baptist Church, 6501 Aurora Ave. (includes Urbandale 1)

Urbandale 4: Urban Heights Covenant Church, 7605 Aurora Ave.

Urbandale 7: Gloria Dei Church Family Life Center, 8301 Aurora Ave. (includes Urbandale 10)

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