The district wants to use the money to expand the high school and add amenities at the other four buildings.
GRIMES, Iowa — Voters in the Dallas Center-Grimes School District approved an $88 million bond issue on Tuesday's ballot.
62.3% of voters approved the measure, according to unofficial results from the Iowa Secretary of State's website.
The district wants to use the money to expand the high school and add amenities at the other four buildings. District spokesperson AJ Ellingson told Local 5 the bond referendum is a result of student population growth.
"Our high school right now is designed for about 1,100 people," he said. "And we'll get up to about 1,200 here in the next couple of years. Really, we have to meet those needs of those kids when they get to high school as soon as we possibly can."
Through this project, the district is trying to meet those needs.
Roughly $65 million would go toward the high school, including expanding the football stadium and improving career and technical education. The money would also renovate the auditorium.
The rest of it would be spread across the rest of the district, with every building seeing some kind of change.
"If we’re not investing in every student, whether they’re in first or 12th grade, we’re not doing the job correctly,” Ellingson said.
For those first graders, inclusive playgrounds at the elementary schools are top of mind. At a forum on the bond last week, Ken Hagen with OPN Architects said the aim is to allow every student similar access.
"The idea is that mostly all the equipment will be accessible or inclusionary to kids with mobility deficiencies or cognitive deficiencies," he said. "The intent is to make sure that all those kids have the opportunity to play together and have a shared experience with one another."
However, not everyone is on board.
Local 5 spoke with a concerned voter in Dallas Center about the debt the district would go into. She said she doesn't have kids in the district, but still doesn't want to pass debt along to future taxpaying generations.
The district has already reached its maximum when it comes to the debt service levy, at a rate of $4.05. So, instead of an immediate rate hike, taxpayers would see the effects for longer. Ellingson, who lives in Grimes himself and pays taxes there, said it's worth it to him.
“We feel the property taxes are high. That is a very real thing," he said. "Part of that is like, 'This is us too.' As I prepare to vote, I'm going to vote for with my second grader and my kindergartner in mind.”