Voters in the Atlantic Community School District have approved by more than a Super Majority, a $9.5-million bond referendum for school improvements and safety upgrades. Unofficial results from the Cass County Auditor’s Office show there were 736 Yes votes (65.77%) and 383 No votes (34.23%).

Deputy Auditor Sheri Karns reports the results are not official until the Canvass of Election which is to be held April 8th in the Board of Supervisors Room.  She said also, that there were five ballots that have not been returned by mail.  In order for those ballots to be counted they must be postmarked prior to Election Day and received in the auditor’s office by noon on April 8th, 2019.  There were also no provisional ballots.

Atlantic School District Superintendent Steve Barber told KJAN News district officials are “pretty excited” by the results. He thanked the Facility Committee for their time and effort to work through the process, and everyone who voted in favor of the improvements to the school system and the community.

Barber said the next step, aside from the canvass April 8th, is to engage with the district’s bondsman and get the bonds purchased and move forward in working with the architects to complete the Washington Elementary parking lot this summer. From there, they’ll move on to the baseball/softball complex, the Trojan Bowl and the High School facility. Barber said more information about when those projects will get underway will be made known as soon as possible.

Superintendent Barber said also,”Obviously when you don’t have to raise taxes that’s always an easy one to do, but you know it’s been 23-years since we did a major project, and I think many of our community members recognize that we have some unsafe situations, we have some ADA non-compliance things going on, and this is just going to be great for our students, for our school and for our community.” He said they’re looking forward for the facilities to be “modernized and to show respect for our school system and our community

With passage of the measure, 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 Resolution on the ballot asked: “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 ans 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?”