RE: http://www.clintonherald.com/local/local_story_275113044.html

Here we go again. Dipping into my already empty pocket!

Schmo,
The way I understand this the 1% is or will be already in effect. If we vote this down - we will not have the option to use this money for maintenance or updating/building new - we would only be able to use it for reducing a previous debt. It has nothing to do with taking more money from us. This vote will determine how we want to use the money! Which we all know we need some updates - especially on the Middle School Level!

You are correct-the local option tax was passed 7-8 years ago and you have been paying since. And you will continue to pay for at least another 20 years under the state changes.
The 1% sales tax for schools will not go away if this is defeated.
If we are wrong, maybe a school board member could help explain it better.

What they said!

I agree with isiadina.

Attend the meetings scheduled this next month to view the ideas for remodeling the middle schools and high school. While doing so, remember that these plans will not cost you even one more penny, because whether you approve them or not, you are still going to pay this sales tax. That is, unless you turn this down and then decide later to increase your property taxes for a bond issue to do these projects, then count on your property taxes going up, but you will still be paying this sales tax.

I have a Question, and I wonder if anyone out there can help me. I was trying to figure out when the two middle schools were built. I know Washington has been around since the 60's, at least, and I thought Lyons Middle School was built at it's present location in the 80's. My husband says I am wrong on both counts. Does anyone know when in fact these two schools were built? Thanks in advance! (Age of the schools could play a big part in deciding whether it is worth it to invest in updating.)

Lyons was built at least by 1971. I have no idea about Washington. . . it looked old when I was young and that was long time ago! I seem to vaguely remember that Gateway was built around the same time, but I could be way off on that one. (I think I remember Gateway being built, anyway)

quote:

Originally posted by Dryvergal:
I have a Question, and I wonder if anyone out there can help me. I was trying to figure out when the two middle schools were built. I know Washington has been around since the 60's, at least, and I thought Lyons Middle School was built at it's present location in the 80's. My husband says I am wrong on both counts. Does anyone know when in fact these two schools were built? Thanks in advance! (Age of the schools could play a big part in deciding whether it is worth it to invest in updating.)

The Facilities Task Force is hosting meetings, two tonight, and I bet they could answer your question. I think the first meeting is at 5 at CHS (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) and the second at 7 at Washington. The meetings also include tours, if you're interested. If you haven't been on a tour of our middle and high schools and don't think improvements need to be made, please stop by and take a tour. You'll be shocked.

quote:

Originally posted by Purple P:

quote:

Originally posted by Dryvergal:
I have a Question, and I wonder if anyone out there can help me. I was trying to figure out when the two middle schools were built. I know Washington has been around since the 60's, at least, and I thought Lyons Middle School was built at it's present location in the 80's. My husband says I am wrong on both counts. Does anyone know when in fact these two schools were built? Thanks in advance! (Age of the schools could play a big part in deciding whether it is worth it to invest in updating.)

The Facilities Task Force is hosting meetings, two tonight, and I bet they could answer your question. I think the first meeting is at 5 at CHS (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) and the second at 7 at Washington. The meetings also include tours, if you're interested. If you haven't been on a tour of our middle and high schools and don't think improvements need to be made, please stop by and take a tour. You'll be shocked.

In answer to Dryvergal, the question about when Washington Middle was built was asked last night, and the answer was 1938. Lyons Middle was not asked, but as stated earlier it was the early 1970's and I also believe as stated earlier that 1971 is correct.

The original start of this topic concerned the issue to go before the voters in early December. That issue is NOT a tax increase. You will pay this sales tax regardless of the vote in December. As stated, the issue is to decide what to do with the one cent sales tax now that the State Legislature has made it a state-wide sales tax. It is to be distributed on a per pupil basis across the State, which means Clinton Schools (also Camanche, Central Clinton (DeWitt) and Northeast) will receive more money under the per pupil distribtion than we do under just local sales tax. In Clinton, this was estimated by the Piper-Jaffery accountants to be about $3-million per year. If the voters turn down the proposal to use this money for the proposed new construction and remodeling, then the money will be used to pay off PPEL and bonded debts of the district (about $1-million), and then the rest can be used by the School Board of Directors for ANY lawful school expenditure. H-m-m, $3-million annual income to pay off $1-million in debts, and then the rest goes to whatever!!! How much money is that? $2-million per year, for twenty years!! WOW! Or we can vote to proceed with sorely needed construction and remodeling as proposed by the Facilities Task Force.

This sales tax income is not projected to be sufficient to meet the total proposed construction and/or remodeling, but I will leave it to those charged with making the presentation to the public to explain how the difference can be covered. Those presentations are tonight at 5:30PM (Lyons Middle) and 7:00PM (Washington Middle).

quote:

Originally posted by Dryvergal:
I was trying to figure out when the two middle schools were built. I know Washington has been around since the 60's, at least, and I thought Lyons Middle School was built at it's present location in the 80's.

According to the 1976 History of Clinton County Iowa Washington Junior High (Middle School) was built in 1934 (which makes it the oldest building in the district if you don't count the rebuilding of the high school), Lyons in 1971, and Gateway (now Bluff Elementary) was built in 1963.

Just an aside, Washington was old when I attended from 1964-1970! (Yep, six years in junior high! -- because of the fire at the high school). It is now 74 years old, and in desperate need of remodeling or replacement.

I guess I don't remember Gateway being built. Was it an elementary school before becoming a junior high/middle school?

No, it was built as a junior high school. At that time, Clinton had 3 junior highs and 13 elementary schools, namely: Baldwin, Elijah Buell, Franklin, Harding, Hawthorne, Henry Sabin, Horace Mann, Irving, Jefferson, Kirkwood, Lincoln, Longfellow, and Whittier.

I plan to attend the 7:00 meeting at Washington. Is anybody else going to either one?

Hoping to be at the 7 o'clock.