April 22, 2011
Come Celebrate the Opening of our Renovated Facilities!
The Valley Park School District is hosting an Open House from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 28th. Community members are encouraged to tour the district’s newly renovated facilities at One Main Street, Valley Park, Mo. The district is celebrating the completion of a year-long building project made possible by the April 2010 passage of Proposition E, a no tax rate increase bond issue.
Visitors will enter through the doors of the newly expanded entrance to the Valley Park Field House. High school students will be available to lead tours upstairs to the weight room that overlooks the Varsity Gymnasium; then, back through the Varsity Gymnasium and into the expanded Cafeteria. Guests will enjoy the addition of air conditioning in the gymnasium and the kitchen area. Many of the building improvements listed in Prop E addressed critical areas in the district’s infrastructure, including replacing aging, inefficient heating and cooling systems and old, leaking roofs; updating technology in all buildings and adding lighting in middle school classrooms, hallways and in the main parking lot.
Superintendent Dr. David Knes said, “I am looking forward to the opportunity to thank community members for their support in passing the bond issue which allowed us to make so many wonderful improvements to our aging facilities.”
July 22, 2010
Prop E Projects Bond Issue Update |
|
|
Completed Summer 2010
Upcoming Projects
|
|
July 22, 2010
Valley Park School District Saves More Than $850K in Interest Payments by Utilizing Federal Stimulus Programs
The Valley Park Board of Education recently approved the sale of $4 million in bonds for financing the maintenance of the district’s building improvements, including, new energy-efficient HVAC systems; roof replacements and safety lighting on parking lots. Valley Park School District received approval to utilize two federal economic stimulus bond programs to help finance the district’s facilities’ plan, thereby saving the district more than $851,900 over the life of the loan – 15 years.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 will provide $24.8 billion in bond authority to state and local governments for school capital improvements. Valley Park School District received $1.6 million in interest-free Qualified School Construction Bonds and $1.15 million in Build America Bonds, a tax credit program. “These innovative bonds give state and local governments an important new tool to help finance public capital projects that will benefit communities in challenging times,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman.
The sale of the bonds was the result of overwhelming (nearly 75%) voter approval of Proposition E, a no-tax-increase bond issue in April. Proposition E will not increase the district’s current debt service tax rate which is dedicated to the repayment of the district’s bonds.
April 08, 2010
Thank you Valley Park Community! Proposition E is Approved!
Building progress updates will be posted on this page. For further information about the approval of Proposition E, please check out the district news page. http://www.vp.k12.mo.us/district/news/pages/2010/prop-e.html
February 05, 2010
Proposition E No Tax Rate Increase Bond Issue
Proposition E will address FIVE critical areas in the District facilities' infrastructure. For more information please open this pdf document.
February 05, 2010
Follow this link to view more images.
In addition to replacing leaking roofs and outdated heating and cooling systems, updating technology throughout the District and adding lighting to parking lots, passage of Proposition E will allow the building of an extended cafeteria and entrance to the varsity gym (see renderings above).
January 28, 2010
Questions & Answers about Proposition E
A No Tax Rate Increase Bond Issue
January 14, 2010
Valley Park Board of Education approves Ballot for Proposition E
At the January 13th Valley Park Board of Education meeting, Board members overwhelmingly approved placing Proposition E, a No Tax Rate Increase $4 million Bond Issue on the April 6th ballot. Approval by voters (4/7th’s or 57%) will allow the district to borrow the money and distribute $4 million in Bonds. This proposal would NOT increase the tax rate.
The Board’s decision to place a No Tax Rate Increase Bond Issue on the ballot resulted from meetings with community focus groups, parents, staff and the District Long-range Facilities Planning Team. The team reported that the district is facing some major building maintenance and repairs. A facilities analysis by Glenn Construction Company revealed that there are some critical areas that need to be addressed including, (1) roof replacements, (2) updating the district’s 30-plus-year-old HVAC systems and (3) adding air conditioning to the kitchen and varsity gymnasium. Other projects included in the No Tax Rate Increase Bond Issue are, (1) adding classroom technology for implementing 21st century instructional strategies; and (2) updating the district’s network infrastructure.
For more information on Proposition E, a No Tax Rate Increase Bond Issue e-mail questions to: Kathy Smith at bondissue@vp.k12.mo.us; or contact the district at 636-923-3637.
December 17, 2009
Valley Park Board of Education approves a NO TAX RATE INCREASE Bond Issue for the April 6th Ballot
At the December 16th Valley Park Board of Education meeting, Board members approved placement of a NO TAX RATE INCREASE $4 million Bond Issue on the April Ballot. Approval of 4/7th’s of the voters will allow the district to distribute $4 million in Bonds. This proposal would NOT increase the tax rate.
Details of Bond Issue Proposal
The Board’s decision to place a No Tax Rate Increase Bond Issue on the ballot resulted from many meetings with community focus groups, parents, staff and the District Long-range Facilities Planning Team. The team reported that the district is facing some major building maintenance and repairs. A facilities analysis by Glenn Construction Company revealed that there are some critical areas that need to be addressed including, (1) roof replacements, (2) updating the district’s 30-plus-year-old HVAC systems and (3) adding air conditioning to the kitchen and varsity gymnasium. Also, the team from Glenn Construction presented a building proposal that includes the following improvements to our facilities, (1) expanding the cafeteria; (2) extending the lobby entrance to the varsity gymnasium and cafeteria, and (3) adding a set of rest rooms and a concession stand area to the gym lobby. Other projects included in the No Tax Rate Increase Bond Issue are, (1) adding classroom technology for implementing 21st century instructional strategies; and (2) updating the district’s network infrastructure.
Community Telephone Survey
In October and November, a local communications firm, UNICOM-ARC, conducted a Community Telephone Survey for the district. This survey provided information on residents’ overall perceptions of the district and their views on a possible April 2010 No Tax Rate Increase Bond Issue. Calls were made to randomly selected registered voters in the district. A team from UNICOM-ARC presented a report with results of the survey at the November 18th School Board meeting. A copy of the Power Point Presentation is available at http://www.vp.k12.mo.us/district/bondissue/docs/pres-survey.html.
It was reported that from a random sample of 200 phone calls, 85% rated the job performance of the district as excellent or good; and 81% gave Valley Park School District a grade of A or B. Also, a strong majority (74%) of those polled was satisfied with the district’s financial condition and therefore, would consider voting in favor of a No Tax Rate Increase Bond Issue, provided the funds are used to improve the district’s facilities and update technology.
For more information on the No Tax Rate Increase Bond Issue, e-mail questions to: Kathy Smith at bondissue@vp.k12.mo.us; or contact us at 636-923-3637.
