Nikole Babb
nbabb@cherryroad.com
Augusta Public Schools USD 402 will be holding a special election in May for a bond issue. According to their submission to the County Clerk, the bond will finance certain improvements to USD 402 facilities.
The question on the ballot will read as follows:
“Shall Unified School District No. 402, Butler County, Kansas (Augusta) (the “District”) be authorized to issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $55,000,000 (the “Bonds”) to pay the costs to construct, furnish and equip: (a) improvements, additions and renovations to Augusta High School, including additional classrooms, Fine Arts improvements, Career and Technical Education improvements, gymnasium and athletic improvements, HVAC, roof, and interior and exterior building improvements; (b) improvements, expansions and renovations to Augusta Middle School, including classrooms, HVAC and lighting improvements; (c) improvements, additions and renovations to Garfield, Ewalt, and Lincoln Elementary Schools, including classroom renovations, band and music improvements, HVAC and lighting improvements, and playground improvements; (d) safety and security improvements to District facilities; (e) other necessary renovations and improvements to District facilities; and (f) all improvements related thereto (the “Project”); and pay costs of issuance and interest on the Bonds during construction of the Project, all pursuant to the provisions of K.S.A. 10‑101 et seq., K.S.A. 25‑2018(f), K.S.A. 72‑5457, and K.S.A. 72‑5458 et seq.?”
As read in the question, the bond will fund improvements to Augusta High School such as additional classrooms, improvements to the Fine Arts, Career and Technical Education, gymnasium and athletics, HVAS, roof, as well as interior and exterior improvements.
Augusta Middle School will receive improvements such as expansion and renovations including classrooms, HVAC and lighting. Garfield, Ewalt and Lincoln Elementary Schools will also receive improvements to classrooms, band and music, HVAC & lighting and playground.
Safety improvements mentioned above include the possible installation of automated secured entry locks in every classroom that allow each room to be locked instantly with the push of a button. Another safety improvement in consideration is to relocate the Augusta High School main office. The office is currently in the middle of the building. The bond plans consider moving the main office to the main entrance so administrative staff have better visibility of who’s entering and better ability to make contact with them.
The total cost of these improvements total $55,000,000 according to the notice. Voters will vote “yes”, or “no”. To learn more about the bond issue, USD 402 has dedicated an online website page to answering questions about it. Readers can learn more by visiting the district’s website at https://www.usd402.com/59054_1.
02/03/25 12:52pm UPDATE: We have been made aware of the author’s error in bond amount. This has been corrected and will be addressed in a correction the our paper. Thank you for your understanding.
