The West Prairie School District is contemplating whether to build a new football field and all-weather track, plus improve the district offices.
Superintendent Guy Gradert said the district’s architects have already completed conceptual designs for the projects.
“If the money piece falls into place, we will be then going to those details of actually breaking ground potentially in the fall, with completion in fall of ’25,” Gradert said.
He emphasized the Board of Education has yet to approve a second phase of projects. If board members give the go-ahead, they will also be asked to approve the issuance of $3.5 to $4 million in working cash bonds.
However, voters could have the final say if residents petition to put the bond issue on this fall’s ballot.
For its first phase of improvements, the district renovated the former middle school in Colchester to serve as a junior-senior high. That cost $10.2 million.
It is being paid for with revenue from the county’s one-cent sales tax for school facilities, working cash, health/life-safety funds, and ESSER funding from the federal government.
Gradert said the district is trying to do what’s best for its students.
“We’re not trying to create a fancy, fancy place out here. We’re just trying to give our kids something that’s appropriate for West Prairie,” he said.
Gradert also said a full-size gymnasium “is high on everyone’s wish list.” But that’s been set aside for now because of the price tag – potentially $8 to $10 million.
The superintendent said the district is trying to do a piece at a time so that it can maintain a fairly stable tax rate.
He said the junior-senior high school has created a more efficient school district. West Prairie now has elementary schools in Colchester and Good Hope and the junior-senior high in Colchester.
Prior to the realignment, it operated four schools – the two elementary buildings, a middle school in Colchester, and a high school in Sciota.
Gradert said the district will continue to use the gymnasium in Sciota.
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