By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — District 80 is on the list to have an expansion project of Casey Middle School funded by the state construction bill, and has also been urged to pursue interest free bonds when the applications become available.

Staff at the school have met and administrators at Casey have toured new middle schools in a preliminary design “wish list” of a renovated campus that would get sixth through eighth grade students under one roof.

“They have presented two plans,” Settle reported to the District 80 Board on Wednesday. “One is what they would really like to have and the second is a scaled back plan.”

Under terms of the scaled back plan, the staff would like to have a new gym that is connected to the existing building that would also contain some new classrooms. Settle said the staff would like to have a section of the campus for sixth grade students to help with the transition to middle school. The plan would convert the cafeteria into three classrooms, he reported.

“There are some neat plans they have presented,” Settle said. “They are really preliminary and will need developed.”

Settle said before consulting with the district architect of FGM & Associates, he would like to wait to see what the Legislature will do with the construction bill.

“If they pass the capital bill, we’ll find out quickly (which districts on the construction list) can make the local match required,” Settle explained. “We can probably hop over many schools because we can provide the local match right now. ... If we hold a little on this and continue to position ourselves to take advantage of any opportunities that come around, I think it will work in our best interest.”

In April, Settle found out about the Qualified Zone Academy Bonds, which offer a zero percent interest for schools with a low-income population of at least 35 percent. In addition, Settle said the district will apply for Qualified School Construction Bond funds, which are federal funds allocated to states based on Title I allocations. QZAB’s provide funding for school repairs, renovations and equipment while ZSCB’s provide funding for new construction and renovations.

QZAB and QSCB bonds are issued for 15 years, whereas the standard bonds are issued for 20 years. Settle has said the district would need about $6.5 million to make the renovations to the Casey campus, and with the QZAB and QSCB bonds, the district would have no true interest cost; an average annual debt service of $444,360 and an estimated tax rate cost of 25 cents.

Standard bonds for the same $6.5 million would have an approximate interest rate of 4.25 percent, and an annual debt service of $494,844 for the 20 year term, which would mean just over $3.2 million in interest on the bonds for a total debt service of over $9.7 million and an estimated tax rate cost of 26 cents.

Settle said there is no need for the board to make a decision on which type of bonds it would like to pursue at this time, as there is no obligation to accept the QZAB or QSCB bonds if granted.

In other business, the board:

Heard an update on summer school with one week left in the session;

Heard an update on summer maintenance projects within the district;

Approved purchasing technology equipment at a cost of $425,000 which includes 95 color printers, 60 new Smart Boards and 60 new computers including installation of the Smart Boards. The technology purchases would be funded through stimulus package money;

Approved a three year contract with Krehbiel and Associates for audit services at an increase over the term of contract of just under 3 percent;

Approved a contract with Man-Tra-Con for seven summer workers whose salaries would be paid by Man-Tra-Con; and

Accepted the annual Health/Life/Safety Inspection Report.