By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
Plainville USD 270 voters will decide on Tuesday, March 3, on a bond proposal totaling about $12.5 million.
If approved, the bond would fund improvements at Plainville Elementary School and Plainville Junior-Senior High School. The proposal will appear as a two-question ballot, with each question addressing a separate group of projects.
Question one focuses on facility upgrades and major replacements of building systems. The projects include renovations at both schools, such as HVAC, electrical updates, LED lighting installation, restrooms and replacing the more than 30-year-old roof.
Question two covers additional upgrades, including further renovations to classrooms and entrances at both schools. It also proposes improvements to the Rock Gym and Cardinal Gym.
Proposition one totals $5.49 million and proposition two totals $7.05 million. Both would be repaid over 30 years.
District voters may approve or reject both proposals. However, USD 270 Superintendent Chris Rinehart said proposition two can only take effect if proposition one is approved. If proposal one passes, voters may then choose whether to approve proposal two.
"From my seat as superintendent, I definitely see both questions as addressing high priorities in my mind," he said.
According to a USD 270 website explaining the proposal, Kansas law restricts bond funds to capital improvements, while capital outlay funding is for smaller projects.
Issuing bonds allows the district to spread the cost of the projects over time. Each ballot question carries a different estimated impact on the mill levy.
If only question one is approved, the estimated increase is one mill. If both question one and question two pass, the combined estimated increase would be 10 mills.
On a $100,000 home, a one mill increase would be $11.50 per year and a 10 mill increase would be $115 per year. The median home value in Rooks County is $88,200.
Rinehart emphasized the importance of approving both questions on the ballot.
"Question one: We definitely need to address our restrooms because we are not meeting ADA compliance with that. Not only for students who may have those needs, but for any of our community members," he said.
"Question two would allow us to address safe and secure entrances for both our schools. The safety and security of being able to simply reconfigure our entrances is something I definitely see as a high priority as well."
Under question two, voters would also decide whether the Rock Gym and Cardinal Gym receive renovations. The Rock Gym would be converted from a weight room into a multi-purpose space for the elementary school, with added space for community use.
"It is probably the oldest section of our facility. It was built in the early 1930s," Rinehart said. "What I would really like is to allow that to be used for elementary PE because right now, our elementary PE classes are going into our main Cardinal Gym. We have a lot of everyday foot traffic that's going in and out of that gym, and I would like to reduce some of the wear and tear on that building."
For the Cardinal Gym, the plan includes adding a new room designed as a storm shelter with a capacity of 550 people, enough for all students and staff.
"For me, it's not a weight room. It's a storm shelter that could be double-purposed and provide us with that opportunity for a weight room," Rinehart said.
The shelter would be available to the public outside school hours. The Cardinal Gym would also include restrooms, locker rooms and storage space.
Rinehart said 2026 was the year to pursue the proposal because the district’s 20-year bond, approved in 2005 and funded construction of the Cardinal Gym, is set to expire in September. A facilities assessment conducted in October identified several additional needs that are now included in the bond plan.
"The first real action was the board wanted to carry over and continue with the current 5.7 mills that we were already budgeting," he said. "Knowing our old bond was sunsetting... we could move forward and continue meeting the needs of our facilities."
If approved, Rinehart said the next step is to continue working with Gravity Works Architecture, develop final designs and drawings and begin the contractor interview process.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Plainville Township Hall, 108 S. Jefferson St.
In-person advance voting is open until noon on Monday at the Rooks County Clerk's Office, 115 N. Walnut St., in Stockton.
"I understand there are people in the community who have questions and don't feel like this is the time. I'm hopeful that as we move forward, it'll be my best effort to lead the district and be a good steward of the funding that we have," Rinehart said.
You can learn more about the bond proposal here.