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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do we have the official ballot language ready to share with the public?

​​Yes, the ballot language is as follows:

Shall the Board of Directors of the Fairfield Community School District in the Counties of Jefferson, Henry, Van Buren, Wapello, and Washington, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not to exceed $38,515,000 to provide funds to build, furnish, and equip a new middle school building, including site improvements?

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How were the facility priorities decided?

The district has analyzed facility needs through outside partners who have provided us with several needs assessments, in-house facility experts working on building projects, and concerns brought to the district’s attention through staff.

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Do all members of the Board of Education support this plan?

Yes, the Board of Education voted 7-0 in favor of moving forward with this plan.

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How much is the bond for?

$38.51 million. This is an estimated total design, construction, and bonding cost for a new 4th-8th grade attendance center. FEH Design, Piper Sandler, and Carl A. Nelson & Company determined the projected costs.

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What is the expected cost to build a new middle school?

$56 million.

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How are you paying for the rest of the project?

The remainder of the project cost will be covered through Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) funds. This is a revenue stream available solely for school infrastructure needs or school district property tax relief. We have the ability to borrow up to $21 million of future SAVE revenue to construct a new building and reduce the burden on local property taxpayers.

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How many years are needed to pay off the general obligation bonds?

The repayment period will be determined by the Board of Education during bond sales. Typically, general obligation bonds have a term of around 20 years, but this can vary. There are also options to structure the bonds to allow for refinancing to better rates or early payoff.

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What happens if construction bids come back higher than anticipated?

The Board of Education has two options if bids for the construction project come back higher than allowed by the bond referendum. One option would be to direct the architects and engineers to review and critically analyze the construction projects to make them more economically possible without sacrificing quality. The second option would be to allocate other district resources, such as applying more sales tax (the Board has already approved bonding against SAVE funds for up to $21 million) or PPEL funds toward construction of the project to make up the difference.

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What is the plan for the original building? Will it be demolished?

Students would continue to attend school in the building during construction. Once construction is complete, the existing building would be demolished and become green space. The demolition is already incorporated into the project cost.​

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Does the referendum include a budget for fixtures and furniture?

Yes!

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Does this bond referendum need 50% +1 to pass, or does it need 60% approval?

The bond referendum requires a supermajority to pass, meaning it must receive at least 60% +1 of the vote.

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​How would this project affect students, and where will they be housed during construction?

Students would remain in the current middle school during construction to avoid displacement. The project includes additional drop-off loops and updated design plans to enhance academic programming and improve school safety.

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I understand that the plan is to move 4th grade into this new middle school so that it would serve grades 4-8, Pence would serve grades 1-3, and Washington would serve pre-K and kindergarten. Is that right?

Yes, that is correct. This plan will also allow us to potentially expand our early childhood programming, which could help increase enrollment.

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Will there be recess for students in the new middle school?

​Yes, we will have recess with state-of-the-art playground structures and equipment for 4th-8th grade students.

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What is the plan for the current ACT building if the central office moves into the new middle school?

The plan would be to sell the building.

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Will any existing sports or academic complexes have to be moved?

The current middle school football field would be occupied with construction, but we would be using space at the high school for fall practices to take place. The tennis courts would not be affected based on the current concept drawings.

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If the bond is approved, when would construction on the new building begin, and when would students move into it?

​If the bond is approved, we will immediately enter the design phase, which could take 6-9 months, pending FEH confirmation. This process will involve significant collaboration with our community. Once designs are finalized and contractor bids are awarded, construction will begin, with an estimated construction timeline of approximately 20 months. Ideally, we would like to start construction in spring 2026, with an official opening date of fall 2028.

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What is the proposed construction timeline?

​Following the vote on November 5, there will be 6-9 months connected to a design development phase. This will allow multiple community groups to have input on the layout and plans for the building. Construction documents would then be provided to contractors that would result in scheduling a date to open up bids. If low bids come in where established for the project ($375 per square foot), groundbreaking would occur as soon as possible (projected early spring 2026). Construction would take approximately 20 months to complete, so the goal for opening the new facility would be August 2028.

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If the referendum is approved, can project plans be changed?

No, the project connected to the funds will have to go toward a new middle school. There may be design modifications based on feedback from community groups, but the funds would all go toward the middle school project. 

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What availability will the community have to use/rent the facility?

Please see board policy (905.1) connected to facilities usage for specifics.

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Will the geothermal well be impacted?

No, it will not be impacted. The current site layout will allow for the new building to utilize the same well.

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What do you anticipate the effect on the district's tax levy will be to accommodate this bond?

The anticipated increase in the district’s tax levy would be $2.70 per $1,000 of taxable valuation. This would mean that a family owning a $150,000 house would pay an extra $175 in property taxes per year. A farmer who owns 320 acres of farmland would see their taxes increase $912 per year, and a commercial property valued at $550,000 would see a tax increase of $1,337 per year.​

How does the district's tax rate compare to others?

FCSD's current levy rate is second-lowest among the 10 schools in the state with comparable enrollment.

 

We also have the second-lowest tax rate among the six schools in the Southeast Conference:

  • Washington: $16.12

  • Keokuk: $14.90

  • Burlington: $12.25

  • Mount Pleasant: $12.23

  • Fairfield: $12.11

  • Fort Madison: $11.78​​​​​​​​​​

What’s the district's current debt and how much will be freed up over the next four years?

The precise amount owed is $4,111,998.30. Below are the details of how this cash flow will be freed up over the coming years. For illustration, we are currently in FY2025 as a district:

 

  • The Physical Plant and Equipment Levy note of $230,000 will be paid in full at the conclusion of FY2025. This allows the district to either take on more projects annually or reduce the $1.34 levy approved by voters in March to meet current project needs, which can vary year by year.

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  • The Sales Tax Revenue Bond (2020 Series) will be paid in full by July 1, 2028, assuming no additional payments. This will return $300,174.20 to the district’s revenue. Depending on the timing of bond sales, the district could potentially take out more revenue bonds instead of general obligation bonds. We plan to use $21 million from this fund to offset the need for additional taxes, which is why we’re asking for an additional $38 million for the currently priced $56 million project. There is also flexibility for possible construction inflation.

 

  • The Sales Tax Revenue Bond (2017 Series) will be paid in full by July 1, 2029, assuming no additional payments. This will return $435,273 to cash flow.

 

  • This all amounts to $965,447.20 returned in cash flow to the district.

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When is election day?

The election will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. The polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. More information is available in the How to Vote section.

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Who can vote on the bond referendum?

Anyone who lives within the Fairfield Community School District's boundaries and is 18 years of age or older may cast a ballot on November 5. Anyone who is not registered to vote can do so the same day at the polling place by providing proof of age and residence.

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