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Grain Valley, MO —
As the Grain Valley School District continues to grow, the need for more classroom and facility space also grows.
That is why Grain Valley voters will be deciding on a $3 million, no tax increase bond issue Feb. 8. The bond needs two-thirds majority to be approved. Funding would go toward construction of a gymnasium at the newly opened Grain Valley North Middle School and additional classrooms at Grain Valley High School.
“Grain North Middle School currently has sixth and seventh graders. The plan was to be able to keep those seventh graders as eighth graders next year. The focused project for this building is to get a P.E. classroom (gym), which it currently doesn’t have,” said Superintendent Roy Moss. “Additionally, our student growth has caused us to need additional classes at the high school. Our most pressing need right now is science classrooms/labs.”
Grain Valley North opened in August 2010, funded through a $5.9 million bond issue approved in February 2009. The 32,000-square-foot facility includes 12 classrooms, exploratory classroom space and offices for administration and support space. Other areas include a media center, commons area and kitchen.
Subsequent bond issues will address a cooking kitchen and additional classrooms.
If the bond is approved next month, construction will begin almost immediately so the rooms and gymnasium can be used when school starts for the 2011-12 school year in August. If the district were to wait until April for the election, it would not be possible to be completed in time for the new school year.
“The district needs to be able to keep up with its current rate of student growth,” Moss said. “We need the classroom space yesterday.”
Moss said district administrators and staff will be busy over the next few weeks, informing the community about the bond issue and encouraging people to vote.
He said if people have questions, they can call the Central Office for more information.
“We have been sending out information, and we are presenting throughout the buildings. We have posted signs throughout the district and in our buildings identifying the project and the need,” he said. “ We will also be continuing to present throughout the district at the various buildings and civic groups.”
Moss said he feels positive about the election and the chances that the bond will be approved. He said it is important to take care of this issue now because there will always be other needs down the road.
“This bond issue is just another part of the first phase of the plan that was already approved by district patrons. This community has done a great job in staying ahead of the growth of student population in Grain Valley,” he said. “The next phase will be to continue to focus on Grain Valley North and the high school. Both will need some additional classroom space in the future.”
As the Grain Valley School District continues to grow, the need for more classroom and facility space also grows.
That is why Grain Valley voters will be deciding on a $3 million, no tax increase bond issue Feb. 8. The bond needs two-thirds majority to be approved. Funding would go toward construction of a gymnasium at the newly opened Grain Valley North Middle School and additional classrooms at Grain Valley High School.
“Grain North Middle School currently has sixth and seventh graders. The plan was to be able to keep those seventh graders as eighth graders next year. The focused project for this building is to get a P.E. classroom (gym), which it currently doesn’t have,” said Superintendent Roy Moss. “Additionally, our student growth has caused us to need additional classes at the high school. Our most pressing need right now is science classrooms/labs.”
Grain Valley North opened in August 2010, funded through a $5.9 million bond issue approved in February 2009. The 32,000-square-foot facility includes 12 classrooms, exploratory classroom space and offices for administration and support space. Other areas include a media center, commons area and kitchen.
Subsequent bond issues will address a cooking kitchen and additional classrooms.
If the bond is approved next month, construction will begin almost immediately so the rooms and gymnasium can be used when school starts for the 2011-12 school year in August. If the district were to wait until April for the election, it would not be possible to be completed in time for the new school year.
“The district needs to be able to keep up with its current rate of student growth,” Moss said. “We need the classroom space yesterday.”
Moss said district administrators and staff will be busy over the next few weeks, informing the community about the bond issue and encouraging people to vote.
He said if people have questions, they can call the Central Office for more information.
“We have been sending out information, and we are presenting throughout the buildings. We have posted signs throughout the district and in our buildings identifying the project and the need,” he said. “ We will also be continuing to present throughout the district at the various buildings and civic groups.”
Moss said he feels positive about the election and the chances that the bond will be approved. He said it is important to take care of this issue now because there will always be other needs down the road.
“This bond issue is just another part of the first phase of the plan that was already approved by district patrons. This community has done a great job in staying ahead of the growth of student population in Grain Valley,” he said. “The next phase will be to continue to focus on Grain Valley North and the high school. Both will need some additional classroom space in the future.”
