NICKERSON, Kan. — The Nickerson USD 309 School Board took another step in bringing a bond issue before its patrons by approving Alloy Architecture to do the design work on what would be an estimated $10.4 million proposal.
While that continues to be put in place, the district also decided not to waste time on making much-needed improvements to some areas of the high school.
“We’re going to use some capital outlay to actually start some projects we’re wanting to get done,” Superintendent Curtis Nightingale said. “So right away we’re going to be burning out the architect and construction management engineers to tour our facilities at the high school.”
Nightingale says that includes much-needed work on one particular area of the building.
“We need to look at our science rooms and begin the process of developing some renderings and get going this year on getting the science rooms renovated,” Nightingale said.
As that happens, Nightingale says that they are also working on getting their final list of needs together for the bond issue.
“We’re going to begin the process of putting together our short list of items that we want to pursue potentially with the bond,” Nightingale said. “Then get prices set and get renderings done and then begin the process of sharing that information with our patrons in terms of what we’re trying to accomplish.”
Nightingale noted that inflation and the economy may not be the best at the moment when it comes to a bond proposal, but said most patrons he’s talked to feel now may be better than later.
“What they are telling us is, if you’re going to do something like this, now is the time,” Nightingale said. “They’re projecting over the next five to seven years, interest rates continuing to rise, and so if this is something we’re going to do, now is the time, otherwise we could be in a window where it’s only going to get worse before it gets better.”
Nightingale has been working hard to bring a proposal to the public with full support of the board after a previous bond attempt failed with approval from only a portion of the board.
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