Proposition 4

Proposition 4: Building 4 Our Kids would fund 4 key facility focuses across the district to address facility needs, including aging and undersized buildings and increasing enrollment. The proposed plan includes maximizing the available $41 million to make significant improvements at Lebanon High School, Maplecrest Elementary School and Boswell Elementary School without raising annual tax rates for the community. The proposed plan includes the following:

Lebanon High School

• A two-story 20 classroom addition (demolition of 11.5 classrooms) for a net increase of 8.5 classrooms, which will all be of appropriate and efficient size and amenities of modern-day classrooms.
• A new lobby/commons area to improve traffic flow through the center of the school in addition to increasing cafeteria space. • A new office space will also be included. 
• The plans are for an approximately 59,600 square foot addition with an additional 5,900 light renovation. 
• All of these plans are being made with future phases of our Facility Master Plan in mind. 
• Estimated cost of $29M - $31M with substantial completion estimated for Fall of 2027. 

Maplecrest Elementary

• An eight classroom addition, totaling approximately 10,100 square feet.
• This addition will include the removal of all trailers to maximize safety and functionality.
• These plans are being made with future phases of our Facility Master Plan in mind.
• Estimated cost of $4.7M - $5.1M with substantial completion estimated for Fall of 2025.

Boswell Elementary

• A six classroom addition (demolition of one classroom), with a net of five new classrooms totaling approximately 7,200 square feet of new space.
• This addition will include the removal of all trailers to maximize safety and functionality.
• These plans are being made with future phases of our Facility Master Plan in mind.
• Estimated cost of $3.6M - $3.9M with substantial completion estimated for Fall of 2025.

Innovative Learning Spaces

• A focus on creating innovative learning spaces that help students pursue real world experiences to prepare them for their futures. An additional $1.8M - $2M may be earmarked for contingencies and the growth of innovative learning facilities in the district.

Bonds are low-interest loans the District pays back using funds from its debt service levy. Funds from the debt service levy cannot be used to pay for salaries, classroom supplies or other routine, budgeted items that support teaching and learning in the classroom. LR3 can borrow approximately $41 million in bond funds without raising the debt service levy used to repay the financing. With the new bond issue on the April 2 election ballot, LR3 will be able to complete the projects in our new facilities plan using the existing levy rate. Voter approval would mean that the current debt service levy is extended approximately 10 more years (approximately 2044 instead of 2034). 

In short, no, residents won’t see a tax decrease in the next 10 years. Bonds are issued on 20 year notes. Currently, the Lebanon School District has bond notes that were issued beginning in 2014, so if Proposition 4 does not pass, the district will continue to pay down those existing bonds for the next 10 years. 

Additions and renovations to our oldest wings at Maplecrest, Boswell, and LHS will need to be put on hold, further delaying needed updates to these aging facilities. Additional trailers will likely need to be added to accommodate growing enrollment and facilities will continue to age and deteriorate.

Facilities projects of this nature take some time to plan and build. As our student enrollment grows and facilities continue to age, it’s important to be proactive in providing effective learning spaces for our students and community. With growing enrollment and some aging and undersized facilities, our goal is to be proactive in providing effective learning spaces for our students today and into the future. And, research shows that strong schools are essential to thriving neighborhoods and a strong local economy. 

Strong schools are essential to thriving neighborhoods and a strong local economy. Demographic and economic data consistently shows that vibrant, successful schools are assets to their communities, increasing property values, attracting investment and benefiting neighbors. 
 

Proposition 4 required a four-sevenths (or 57.14%) “YES” vote in order to pass on April 2, 2024.

“Shall Lebanon R-III School District issue its general obligation bonds in the amount of $41,000,000, resulting in no estimated increase to the District’s debt service property tax levy, for the purpose of constructing, improving, repairing, renovating, furnishing and equipping school facilities and sites, including constructing additional classrooms at Maplecrest Elementary School and Boswell Elementary School and making capital improvements throughout the District, including various improvements at Lebanon High School?

If this question is approved, the District’s debt service property tax levy is estimated to remain unchanged at $0.8463 per $100 dollars of assessed valuation of real and personal property.”

In short, no. If Proposition 4 does not pass, voters/residents will not see a tax decrease in the near future. Eventually as bonds are paid off over the next 10 to 20 years, property taxes would decrease. However, this would delay the execution of our long-range facility master plan and needed updates/additions to our oldest schools. 
 

Additions and renovations at Maplecrest, Boswell, and LHS will need to be put on hold, further delaying needed updates to these aging facilities. Additional trailers may need to be added to accommodate growing enrollment and facilities will continue to age and deteriorate. 
 

General Obligation bonds provide funds for capital improvements so that a district does not have to use their Operating Funds (money used for educating students and paying teachers and staff) on such improvements. 
 

If passed, construction will begin immediately and additions at Maplecrest and Boswell will be completed by August 2025. Additions and renovations will be completed at Lebanon High School in the 2026-2027 school year. 
 

Election Day was on Tuesday, April 2, 2024
 

The last day to register to vote was Wednesday, March 6, 2024. 
 

The state of Missouri limits how much the district can ask for (15% of assessed value of the property in the district).  Our needs are more than we can ask for, so we are dividing the needs over several years so we can expand buildings and perform renovations a little at a time.  We can’t address our needs all at once, so we will do a little at a time.
 

Contractors submit bids on architectural plans that contain various options that can be added to or deleted from any project. This allows the base project to be completed, regardless of costs going up or down and for the addition of more things as funding allows.
 

The District’s R3-10 Master Plan reached completion in 2023. Leading up to that the District sought community and staff input on focuses for the next facility master plan, which was approved by the Lebanon School Board in 2023. The school district and school board studied enrollment and facilities data to identify top facility needs in the Lebanon School District. They also sought feedback from the Lebanon community through parents, students, staff and community members. The Board chose to move forward with a phased approach at Lebanon High School, Maplecrest Elementary, and Boswell Elementary to address needs at all three schools as soon as possible. 

To learn more about the district’s long range plan for facility improvements click the link below.

Facility Master Plan

Yes!
Pastries and Prop 4: Wednesday, March 6, 8:30am-9:30am at Central Office (224 W. Commercial St.)

Faith and Civic Leaders Luncheon: Wednesday, March 13, 12pm at Central Office 
Pastries and Prop 4: Wednesday, March 20, 8:30am-9:30 at Central Office

District leadership also shared information with local civic organizations, school faculties, community forums and more!
 

No, we currently have enough teachers, but lack enough adequate spaces for classrooms.  Proposition 4 will provide much needed space and will move students from outdated and aging classrooms to safer and modern learning spaces. The district will be able to fund additional teachers in the future through funds received from growing enrollment.