“The petition is a required part of the referendum process and allows community members to consider whether the bond question should appear on the November ballot,” said Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen.

The petition language reads as follows:

TO THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE ATLANTIC COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, IN THE COUNTIES OF CASS, POTTAWATTAMIE AND AUDUBON, STATE OF IOWA:

We, the undersigned, are eligible electors, reside within the School District and petition the Board of Directors of the School District to call an election to submit to the voters of the School District the following public measure the purpose of which cannot be accomplished within the limit of one and one-quarter percent of the assessed value of the taxable property within the School District:

Shall the Board of Directors of the Atlantic Community School District in the Counties of Cass, Pottawattamie and Audubon, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not to exceed $22,500,000 to provide funds to build, furnish and equip classroom additions and a new secure entrance at Washington Elementary, a new skybridge and commons area between Schuler Elementary and the Middle School, and classroom additions at the High School, with related building and site improvements at each facility; and to remodel, repair, improve, furnish, and equip existing educational facilities, including additional secure entrance improvements, media center and common area improvements at the High School, and site improvements?

Throughout the past year, the board and administration worked with architects and engineers to complete a comprehensive assessment of Atlantic CSD’s buildings and identify facility needs. With an approved bond issue, a series of improvement and expansion projects would occur at each of the district’s schools.

At Washington Elementary School, the oldest portions of the building would be demolished and two new additions constructed for pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and 1st grade students. A new secure entrance, cafeteria, art room, music room, and special education space would also be built.

A new traffic loop is planned for Washington, providing a safer and more efficient area for student dropoff and pickup. Improvements would also be made to the bus lanes, parking lot, and exterior facade.

A new skybridge and commons area also would be built to create a safer connection between Schuler Elementary School and Atlantic Middle School, and secure entrance improvements would occur at both schools. Bond revenue would also be used to renovate the restrooms on all three floors at Schuler.

Atlantic High School’s improvements would include new entrance security, renovation of the commons area and media center, and new classrooms.

The impact of an approved bond referendum would be $1.10 per $1,000 of taxable property value. For a home assessed at $150,000, this would amount to approximately $72.93 per year, or $6.08 per month. Based on the Cass County average assessed value of $2,007 per acre, the annual tax impact would be approximately $1.63 per acre for agricultural property.

An approved bond issue would move the district’s debt service levy to $2.50 per $1,000. This figure would be lower than the $3.10 average district property taxpayers experienced between fiscal years 2020 and 2025. District officials are also committed to maintaining a cumulative tax levy rate between $12 and $14, which is below the average rate of the past 24 years.

The general obligation bond proposal and its project scope are separate from the district’s plans to address its need for additional gymnasium and practice space. The board has scheduled a public hearing for August 27 on the issuance of $18.5 million worth of sales tax bonds to build a multipurpose indoor practice facility at the high school campus.

Sales tax bonds would be repaid with revenue Atlantic CSD receives from the statewide sales tax fund known as Secure an Advanced Vision for Education.

The new practice facility would feature three standard courts, a mezzanine level with a three-lane track, a large weight room, a turf area for batting cages and practice, and four connected classrooms.