Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Millage Meeting Goes Well

All went well at a public meeting concerning a possible three mill increase in property tax for new construction for the Prescott School District.

The meeting, held Tuesday, May 11, 1999, saw some 67 or more community members come to hear the details.

Ron Wright, superintendent of the Prescott School District, explained the problems currently experienced with the facilities. This includes leaks in each of the schools and problems with the Prescott Middle School gymnasium.

The proposed project list includes: covered walkways at PMS, which has been done; a new roof at Prescott Elementary School; renovations at PMS gym; a heating and air conditioning system for PMS; a heating and air conditioning system for PES; lowered ceilings and new lighting installation at both PES and PMS; restroom renovations at PES and PMS; vinyl siding for the maintenance building; a metal shed for equipment; and roof repairs at PHS.

Some of these projects are already underway, due to a reimbursement resolution approved by the board and implemented by the district's financial advisors.

Mickey Roberts, of Raney and Beardsley, Inc., prepared the numbers on a few options open to the district. Of these, option four was considered by the crowd attending to be the most attractive.

This option consists of three new debt mills through the year 2019. The money would go to the building of a new gym and to refund bond issues. All repairs and renovations mentioned would be covered as well.

Wright said the school has money for many of the projects already, but was interested in what the community thought the schools needs were. "I would love for our phones to ring off their hooks," Wright said.

Board President Rick McGough echoed Wright's request from everyone on the board for input on the subjects.

For example, Wright was informed the current heating and air conditioning systems may be pumping carbon monoxide into the class rooms. When these systems begin to have problems with filtration and air intake, this can occur.

The middle school has sustained damage in the library where water leaked in from rains the week of May 4-7.

When Wright and others investigated on the roof they found the electrical conduits had been attached to water drainage pipes and bolted to the roof. One of these bolts came out, leaving a 'thumb' sized hole. Wright was distressed with the setup, and said, " If electricity came into contact with these pipes so close, one of the children could grab a rain gutter and ground it."

Glen Whitmarsh is working to repair the problem now.

These are just a couple of the examples given Tuesday night of problems on the proposed projects list.

The board hopes to have a great deal of community support before they proceed with any measures towards building the new gym.

Because the building of a new gym is considered a bonded issue, the state will pay 1/3 the cost. Plus if the millage raise is passed, 85 percent of the money must be spent within three years. With the next school election coming September 14, 1999, if passed the district could have the money as soon as December 1, 1999.