Q&A (Questions & Answers)
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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
*The above costs include hard construction costs plus engineering fees, bond costs and contingency.
**Estimated costs are based on early schematic designs used to set an accurate bond total. If the bond passes, the project will be fully designed and put out for competitive bids. While the bond amount will not exceed $18,950,000, the final allocation may change based on final design and actual bids.
***All of the mechanical/electrical/plumbing/life safety work is included in that line item, it is not included in the other line item categories.
The school board and district leadership has completed a diligent process of community engagement through open houses, tours, public feedback, community steering committee meetings and informational mailings and surveys. Based on months of discussion and feedback, the board decided to call a May primary bond election.
The district has partnered with Wilkins ADP and BD Construction to help us obtain accurate budget numbers for this project. BD used current and historical cost data for similar education addition and renovation projects in our region to help the school set the bond amount. After the bond passes, all divisions of work will be put out for bid. The final bond amount cannot exceed $18,950,000.
The bond amount includes projected inflation and contingency to ensure the project can be built for the amount on the ballot. While construction volatility has stabilized, the cost to build schools will only continue to rise. The longer we wait to address the district’s needs, the higher the cost may be.
Waiting for bond rates to come down or for commodities to improve may result in higher construction costs due to annual inflation. A bond issue becomes the responsibility of all district patrons over an extended period, during which the economic environment may change. Additionally, almost all school bond issues are refinanced at some point during their maturity to lower rates, allowing them to be paid off earlier or resulting in a reduction in the annual tax request for bond payments.
The estimated bond levy impact is 18 cents per $100 of assessed value per year. This impact is based on 20 year bond rates and the district’s bond valuation. This would result in $180 per year per $100,000 of assessed valuation.
Please input your individual assessed valuation in the tax calculator on the financial page of this website.
If the bond fails our needs do not go away. Due current legislative caps and limitations on the district’s budget, the urgent mechanical and safety upgrades that need to be done will be a significant challenge. Maximizing the annual budget to attempt to save up these funds will most likely require reactive maintenance expenditures and inflated future construction costs. The board would not be able to run a different bond issue if they choose to do so until calendar year 2027.
Our challenges are common to many rural school districts. The attempt to keep annual tax impact down over time can eventually make addressing facility maintenance items and needed capital improvements out of reach within the current budget. Recent legislation further limits the district’s ability to address needs within the budget. Putting forth a project to address our needs many years into the future in the form of a bond issue has been determined as the best option for the district.
Since our original building was constructed, educational standards and state requirements have evolved significantly. Key changes include:
- Early Childhood Growth: We have expanded to full-day Kindergarten (2 classrooms instead of 1) and four half-day Preschool sessions (2 additional classrooms). These changes have doubled the classroom space needed for our youngest learners.
- Mandated Interventions: Under the Nebraska Reads Act, we are legally required to provide intensive, small-group reading interventions. Because these are in addition to regular classroom time, they require separate, dedicated quiet spaces.
- Special Education Services: Since the late 90s, federal law has rightly moved toward fully integrating students with disabilities into their home schools. At Centura, this requires a team of specialists—including Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists—who currently have to provide services in repurposed closets, hallways, and on the stage.
- Modern Career Readiness: New programs like Mechatronics, Digital Design, and Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG), along with an increase in AP and Dual Credit courses, require specialized labs and tech-ready environments that did not exist when the school was built.
To provide the best educational experience and meet state requirements, we have separated athletic practices from the academic school day. Physical Education is regulated by Rule 10; our classes must meet specific requirements. Rule 10 regulations require a comprehensive physical fitness curriculum that focuses on long-term health and body composition. In addition, Rule 10 does not allow competitive sports practice to count toward PE credits. We updated our schedule to protect our students’ instructional time and to reflect graduation requirements.
Also regulated under Rule 10 is the requirement that high school students take two years of Physical Education. Currently, 64% of our high school students are taking a Weights Class as one of their required physical education classes.
Question:
What funding, if any, of these bond funds will go to further Career and Technical Education at Centura?
Answer:
Right now, the school’s most immediate needs are the basics, updating aging systems, improving safety and security, and creating functional learning environments for all students. While we would love to add dedicated Career and Technical Education (CTE) spaces, this bond is focused on being responsible and mindful of what we are asking from taxpayers.
By addressing these essential needs first and reclaiming space such as the current wrestling room for instructional space, Centura can begin looking ahead to future opportunities for additional programming, including Career and Technical Education (CTE). This approach focuses on strengthening and maintaining the spaces students and staff rely on every day, ensuring the entire school is well-supported now while planning thoughtfully for future enhancements.
3/18/26
Question:
Why is a new fitness classroom needed? And is there a breakdown on cost for that room?
Answer:
There are several issues that the addition of the Fitness Classroom solves. Nebraska’s Rule 10 requires all high school students to complete two years of Physical Education for graduation. Currently, 64% of our high school students are enrolled in a Weights and Conditioning class to meet this requirement. Since Weights and Conditioning became part of the PE curriculum, the current open deck above the locker rooms has caused more issues than it did when the space was used primarily for athletics before or after school, including:
ADA Compliance: The current space was designed to be a wrestling deck, not an everyday-use classroom. This space is not handicap accessible and does not meet federal standards for students with disabilities. Being on the ground level would provide the accessibility needed.
Safety & Disruption: The space is used daily (8 classes each day) and year-round, and classes held on the open deck create noise and disrupt elementary learning and other school activities.
Program Impact: The wrestling program has been displaced for a number of years. They practice in the former auto shop room or drive to the Boelus Civic Center. Freeing up this room would provide opportunities for additional educational programming
After reviewing several options and getting feedback from the Community Steering Committee, the Board determined that a pre-engineered metal addition was the most cost-effective solution. While the construction method keeps costs lower, it will be finished to meet all state building and safety codes required for school environments. The costs of contractors (i.e., HVAC, electric, plumbing, flooring, etc.) are spread across all phases of the bond project, so a simple cost breakout of the fitness addition is not easily done. A general estimate of the fitness addition is around $970,000.
This decision was made after careful study of state requirements, accessibility standards, and long-term cost efficiency to ensure we are providing the essentials for our students’ safety and education.
4/14/26
Answer:
My understanding is you will take 2 years to “borrow” the bond money over two years. Does interest not start until the money is borrowed? If so, does the repayment amount on my tax statement increase the second year? Or we just pay back more that first year?
Answer:
Interest does not start until the bonds are issued so it is possible that the first year could have an increase and then the rest of the increase would go into effect in the following year. However, we are showing the entire .18 increase in year one as that is possible as well and we want to model the maximum amount. The initial bond levy will be approved in September of 2026 and the taxes for the bond will be collected beginning in 2027.
Additionally, most school bonds are refinanced during their term. Refinancing often leads to lower interest rates, allowing the district to pay off the debt earlier or further reduce the annual tax request.
4/14/26
Question:
When the bond passes are competitive bids sought for the actual construction?
Answer:
All trade divisions and scopes of work will be competitively bid out by the construction manager. Following review and analysis of all of the bids by the construction manager, the Board of Education will consider each and every bid submitted and make a final determination on the accepted bids.
5/8/26