Pioneer School District voters will decide March 19 on two propositions related to capital projects.
The Board of Education approved the measures at its Jan. 16 regular meeting.
The proposed capital improvement measures would have a zero local tax impact.
Proposition 1 relates to additional funding needed to complete the 2022 Capital Project. Officials said that historic inflationary cost increases for labor and materials has resulted in the cost of the 2022 falling beyond the initial budget.
Voters approved the project in May 2022, and will be asked to authorize an $8.1 million increase to the budget to complete heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) work at Delevan Elementary School. Costs will be covered through a combination of the district’s Food Service Fund Balance ($40,000) and the 2008 Capital Construction Reserve Fund ($1.5 million), with the remainder to be financed and reimbursed through State Building Aid.
Proposition 2 is a new round of capital improvements related to safety, energy savings, and athletic fields totaling $29 million. Some of the project highlights include:
- Safety and security measures at Pioneer High School, Pioneer Middle School and Arcade Elementary to include additional security cameras and door card access locations, door monitoring sensors, public address system upgrade, and new electrical switchgear
- Full window replacement at Pioneer Middle School and Arcade Elementary
- Middle school pool renovations to the ceiling, new acoustic treatments and lighting
- New student lockers at the Middle School
- Arcade Elementary second floor student lockers and construction of a new secure entrance vestibule
- Renovations to the high school in the District Office, Instructional Technology Services office, and IT server room.
- A new multipurpose turf field at the high school for baseball, softball, soccer, field hockey, and related infrastructure
For that project, the district would utilize $1.6 million from the 2020 Capital Improvements Reserve and finance and be reimbursed through State Building Aid for the rest, officials said.