Tax levy would pay for school building

Editor's note: The following story has been edited to correct the student enrollment.

ALTENBURG, Mo. -- Supporters of a tax levy expected to raise $1.9 million for a new school building in Altenburg are hopeful the measure will pass when it goes before voters in August.

"Nobody likes to hear about taxes going up," said Lucas Hager, vice president of the Altenburg School Board. "All tax issues are that way. That's just how it is."

Hager said the school board has unanimously endorsed passage of the tax levy, which comes after a similar tax measure for a new building that was defeated in 2010.

"There were concerns about the tax in 2010," Hager said. "I think we've addressed those concerns this time around."

The main concern for voters in 2010, according to Hager, was the 83 cents per $100 assessed valuation that was to raise $2.4 million. This year's tax measure calls for a smaller levy of 77 cents per $100 in assessed valuation to raise $1.9 million.

"A smaller levy could help its chances," he said.

The Altenburg School District, a kindergarten-through-eighth-grade school of about 106 students, is currently split among four buildings along Main Street. Bleau Deckerd, district superintendent, said the district's oldest building was built in 1911.

"When a school district, any school district, can get 100 years out of a building, it's doing something," Deckerd said.

The old building houses the middle-school grades and a cafeteria while a nearby modular unit contains two classrooms. The other two buildings house more classrooms and a gym.

"The gym was built in 1988," Deckerd said. "It's a metal building with a concrete floor and has no heating, cooling or insulation. There's also little insulation in the older building and modular unit."

A more energy-efficient building would house all grades under one roof and would be built along Route C on 10 acres purchased by the district in 2010. According to Deckerd, building a new building would be lest expensive than trying to repair existing buildings.

"Just prepping the construction area around the buildings would be astronomical," he said. "We would also have to purchase neighboring property for everything to work. We think that building new is the way to go."

Deckerd said safety and parking issues also will be addressed with a new building.

"The new building will have a basement tornado room for students in case of warnings," he said. "There will also be an area for picking-up and dropping-off students. Right now, parents and school buses have to line up on Main Street to do that. It's a nightmare on Main Street from 3 to 3:15 p.m."

Like Hager, Deckerd believes this year's tax levy may pass.

"We hope that voters realize that we've done a lot of homework since 2010," he said. "We've worked with architects and have looked at cost estimates for three years. We hope that voters are aware of the facts and will take everything into consideration."

klewis@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

8432 Main St., Altenburg, Mo.