Voters to decide Tuesday on $6.7 million bond issue at elementary school in Monroe City

MONROE CITY, Mo. — Voters in the Monroe City R-I School District will decide on a $6.7 million bond to benefit the elementary school.

Tony DeGrave, superintendent of the Monroe City R-I School District, said the district’s main priority is to complete the south wing of the school by adding 11 classrooms to house grades 1-4, hallways and two full sets of restrooms.

Another priority is to update security security features including, but limited not to, automated door access, cameras and campus communications with speakers.  Needed improvements to be addressed in the school are plumbing, subfloor structure, HVAC, electrical, roofing, interior and exterior doors and lighting.

The district also is looking into renovating the old elementary school after completing a cost analysis of renovation compared to demolition. District officials are interested in housing a pre-K through 6th grade physical education class. Updating the old school also will include a fire alarm system update and restrooms that are ADA compliant with an epoxy flooring finish.

Construction would begin in 2024 if passed. 

DeGrave said passing the bond will not raise taxes. If the proposition is approved, the adjusted debt service levy of the school district is estimated to remain the same at $0.9900 per $100 of assessed valuation on personal property.

“The biggest part about this is that it is a no-tax increase, so our taxpayers have been gracious in the past to allow us to get to a tax levy and allowed us to have flexibility to have the ability to be progressive and capture roughly $6.7 million every five years,” he said.

The expansion will allow for more space after previously adding seven pre-K classrooms during the last three years.