Rob Leich1

Jamestown (CSi) Jamestown Public School Superintendent, Rob Lech says, CHS’s plans not to construct the fertilizer plant near Jamestown, does not alter plans for the proposed elementary and middle schools.

On Monday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Lech said the study that indicates a seven percent enrollment growth a Jamestown Public Schools was conducted prior to the CHS plans to build the facility.

He added that construction workers seldom brings families to the work location and so the school enrollment was not expected to be impacted in that way.

He pointed out that if the plant had been constructed, the impact of workers with school age children would be felt in five years.

He reminds the community that the next public meeting on the $19-million school bond referendum is on Thursday September 17, 2015, at 7-p.m., at Jamestown Middle School’s Thompson Community Room.

The vote is on September 29, 2015 at Thompson Auditorium.

Absentee balloting is currently available and Early Voting is September 15-28th, at the Stutsman County Courthouse.

He said a 60-percent majority of “yes” votes is required to pass.

He added that if the voters approve the bond issue, property taxes on a $100,000 home would be less that $17, annually, or about $1.39 per month.

The 20 year bond levy is 25.11 mills.

If the vote fails the property tax would drop by $113 annually.

Under the proposal Louis L’Amoure Elementary School would be expanded from housing 125 students to 360 students, and Washington Elementary Schools would be decommissioned, because it is no longer effective as an educational setting, due the age of the building, small classrooms, and an expansion would be cost prohibitive. The closing would not impact the use of Ernie Gates Field behind Washington.

Phase One includes Roosevelt, Gussner and Lincoln Elementary Schools receiving a $1 million renovation budget and they along with Jamestown Middle School would be getting enhancements that allow for air conditioning.

The Second Phase is approximately $13 million dollars and and would include expansion to Gussner to accommodate 360 students with additional renovations to Roosevelt and Lincoln Schools. The Second Phase would most likely be considered if the enrollment in grades K-5 exceeds the 1,080 capacity provided in the First Phase.

Jamestown Middle School shows to be slightly over capacity by 2019-2020, but the district believes that facility and space changes would be able to accomodater this growth.

More information about the referendum, voting and expansion and renovation plans for the school district by clicking here.