The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education has officially set April 2^nd, 2019, as the date for a Special Election for a $9.2-million bond referendum to carry out school building and site improvements. A petition with 55 signatures was submitted to the administration, requesting the Board call for a special election on a bond proposition. Afterward, Board member Alison Bruckner made the motion to approve a Resolution calling for special election, and seconded by Kristy Pellett. All Board members voted in favor.

The Atlantic School Board held their meeting at the Achievement Center on S.W. 7th Street, Wednesday evening

The Resolution states: “Shall the Board of Directors of the Atlantic Community School District, in the Counties of Cass, Audubon and Pottawattamie, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue general obligation bonds in an amount not exceeding $9,500,000 for the purpose of furnishing, equipping, constructing, improving, repairing, and renovating school buildings and improving the sites thereof at the school district’s existing school buildings located in Atlantic, Iowa, including without limitation: (a) renovating, equipping and improving the football field/track/stadium, team building, concession and related buildings/site improvements, (b) renovating, equipping and improving  the softball/baseball fields and related buildings/site improvements, (c) constructing, relocating, equipping and improving tennis courts and related buildings/site improvements, and (d) improving and realigning a roadway for smoother access to the elementary school and connection to the middle school?”

If approved during the Special Election, the indebtedness of the district will be in excess of 1.25-percent of the assessed valuation of taxable property in the School District. The polls for the April 2nd, 2019 Election will be open from 7-a.m. until 8-p.m.

Last month, the Board, along with members of the Facilities Planning Committee, an engineer and financial expert met at the High School to discuss a proposal for a bond referendum calling for up to $9.5-million to improve certain district facilities. Superintendent Steve Barber told KJAN News afterward, that the proposal concentrates on improvements to the Middle School and redoing the softball/baseball diamond, refurbishing the Trojan Bowl, creating a road from 11-th to 14^th to help with the congestion that occurs at Washington during student drop-off and pick-up. He said basically the scope is centered around creating safety at the Middle School Athletic Facilities, and making all of the facilities ADA compliant and accessible to everyone.

Some of the proposed improvements to the Trojan Bowl include using an all-synthetic turf, a new and wider soccer field, a four-lane rubber track, visitor parking, and new bleachers with 1,500 seat capacity on the home side and 500 seat capacity on the visitor’s side. The proposal also includes lighting and sound improvements, and a new scoreboard. The baseball and softball complex improvements would include new dugouts, batting cages, six tennis courts and lights at the existing high school practice field.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board approved seven requests to participate in the Retirement Incentive Program. The Board also approved Early Resignation Incentives, which calls for a stipend in the amount of $500 for the participants.