KDSN RADIO News
Charter Oak-Ute special election could help add air conditioning
A few of our area school districts are holding special elections on Tuesday, September 13th. Charter Oak Ute Superintendent Adam Eggeling says the public can vote on measures that could help modernize some of their facilities.
“I’ve had some questions about what this is going to do to taxes and to be honest nothing is going to change. It just continues things we’ve done in the past.”
Eggeling says the district is looking to extend a revenue purpose statement for an existing bond to help pay for renovations. He says monies from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund are not enough on their own.
“We’re trying to be as proactive as we can to be able to start projects in a timely manner just because the use of ESRA dollars have to be done by 2024.”
Eggeling says the district is looking to upgrade bathrooms and add air-conditioning to a building originally opened in 1916 instead of disrupting school on hot days.
“We’re one of the only schools in our area with air conditioning. I hate having to let out early for heat. It makes that learning environment a little bit tougher for those kiddos and those teachers too. I’d just like to have a level playing field with everyone else.”
He says the special election is needed to get the district’s plans ready for a school budget review committee in Des Moines. Eggeling says they are hoping to begin work in summer 2023 if the renovations are approved.
