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USD 408 finalizes bond, hires financial adviser years ago

Board also approves inter-local agreement with city

Sports reporter

Marion-Florence USD 408 hired Steve Shogren of George K. Baum and Co. Jan. 3 to be its financial adviser for the upcoming building project.

The project would include a new indoor pool, gymnasium, and auditorium.

Shogren worked with the district in 1997 as financial adviser for the Marion Middle and High School building project. He will be paid 3/10 of a percent of the project, or $24,000. However, he will not be paid if the project does not pass.

The current project is a bond issue that district voters will decide in the April 1 election.

The total estimated cost is $9,020,849. The bond amount to be voted on will not exceed $8,000,000.

USD 408 superintendent Lee Leiker once again made clear the mill levy would remain constant.

"We are able to construct these kind of facilities without an increase because we are paying off the current bond issue," Leiker said. "We would like to roll this issue into the current tax base."

The board also agreed to pay Shogren to help design an informational brochure that can be distributed to patrons.

Shogren's fees for the brochure will be between $8,000 and $16,000 to be paid with interest from the bond. Like his initial fee he will not see any of the money if the bond does not pass.

Leiker said the brochure should be ready in February. Around the same time the board will have public meetings for anyone interested in finding out more information.

A resolution of the bond issue is printed in the public notice section of this issue.

In other news:

— The board approved 7-0 an inter-local agreement with the City of Marion concerning the pool.

The agreement states the city will pay $100,000 per year toward the bond, and evenly split the yearly costs of the pool. In 2010 the 50 percent shared costs percentage will be evaluated.

— Marion County Special Education Cooperation director Chris Cezar asked the board to consider renewing the lease for the cooperative building for another year.

Cezar said the building went through a fire safety inspection and said minor requirements, including exit signs being moved, were needed, but overall Cezar felt the inspection went well.

— MHS counselor Phoebe Janzen and principal Ken Arnhold presented a rough draft of the 2006-07 class schedule to the board.

After some tweaks, the schedule should have six block classes with two daily classes, and a daily activity period next to lunch.

Janzen said this schedule is more convenient for students and allows them to not be rushed, as well as matches up better with the MMS schedule.

MMS principal Tod Gordon presented a rough draft of his schedule as well, but Marion Elementary School principal Stan Ploutz said his schedule would depend on the other schools because they share teachers.

— MHS and MMS librarian Susan Reid presented the Lexile testing format to the board.

The testing is done in grades fifth through 12th, and is a good way to know how a child may score on state and national assesments.

— Margo Yates, who works for the district through Marion REC, was unanimously accepted as an official KPERS employee.

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