by Dennis Sharkey
Landmark reporter
No construction projects in the Platte County R-3 School District are planned for 2010 but that will change in 2011.
The school board will hold a special meeting Feb. 11 to interview potential architects and project managers for the district's future construction needs.
Without a plan in hand, Superintendent Dr. Mike Reik, told The Landmark on Tuesday that he anticipates the need for a new elementary school in Platte City and an additional eight classrooms at Pathfinder School as top priorities.
However, the priority list could change, depending on whom the district selects to lead the efforts. He said the district will pursue a building plan that will include demographic studies of the entire district to analyze where the needs are.
Right now, Reik said he sees the need for increased elementary school capacity but that will be followed by needs at the middle school and high school levels as well.
Reik said the demographic study will look outside the box. For instance, he pointed to about 100 students whose parents work at Fort Leavenworth. He said major expansion to the fort will be something R-3 will need to monitor.
At the board's meeting Thursday, bonding capacity legislation was also discussed. Reik said there are a few bills in the house and one in the senate that address bonding capacity.
Reik said Rep. Jason Brown, R-Platte City, expressed to him that at this time he is not supportive of a five percent increase in bonding capacity that has been proposed by some. Currently, school districts are limited to selling only 15 percent of the district's assessed valuation in bonds. Proponents want to increase that number to 20 percent.
Board member Patricia Stinnett said not supporting an increase would be contradictory to Brown's belief about taxes. She said she would love to discuss the issue with Brown.
“I find it concerning that he wouldn't support that,” she said. “When you're opposed to increased taxes on homeowners and businesses, that's what you're going to do because schools can't take care of facilities. That doesn't make any sense.”
Reik said Rep. Tim Flook, R-Liberty, is sponsoring a bill that would allow for a soft cap. A soft cap would allow school districts to apply for an increase in capacity.
Reik said last month that currently the district only has about $4 million available in bonding capacity. He said in 2011, the district could be looking at $20 to $25 million in projects.
Last year the district lost $2 million in assessed valuation.
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