Voters Struck Down Pierce Public School Bond Issue
By Lauren Delka
Voters denied Pierce Public Schools’ students $25.9 million in school renovations on August 12, with 1,114 "against" votes and 707 “for” votes.
The bond had ideas of a new entrance, classrooms, gym, corridor, and renovations to existing bathrooms and special education rooms in the elementary school. This proposal also brought up a lower level to the high school, including a new gym with a stage, and a fitness room, while the main floor would expand the multipurpose room to accommodate an official wrestling room, the current shop classroom would have been renovated and expanded, and the locker rooms, Special education classrooms would have been renovated. The current weight lifting room would be turned into an agriculture classroom, and the current agriculture class would have been a STEM lab, as well as a few more changes to the schools of Pierce.
A major issue people had with the bond was the “unfair” property tax rates that would be increased.
“I wish there was a different way that was fair to all the citizens,” Deb Koehlmoos, teacher at Pierce High School, comments.
In agreement with this, Ann Reeker, a senior at Pierce High states, “I'm extremely glad it didn’t pass because due to the property tax increasing, it probably would have made my family go through some pretty bad financial hardship.”
The majority of Pierce citizens agree that the unequal property tax increase is not ideal, but those of outside counties and some Pierce citizens think that the property tax is the most reasonable funding system for school districts.
Senior at Pierce High School, Christian Nordby states, “The property tax increase is probably the most reasonable. It’s not great, but it is the best option.” When asked about his reason for coming to Pierce High School, Nordby explains, “The quality of education here is a lot better than the other options, and the environment is pretty friendly, and the sports are pretty good. You can get more quantity at other schools, but it’s not great.”
Although Pierce has not made changes to the school physically in a while, the facts show that there are a number of transfer students coming to Pierce each year. The quality of Pierce’s teachers and their teachings is really what brings people in. It is not the fancy new add-ons or the renovations. The quality of Pierce Public Schools will always be more important than the quantity of its newly refurbished physical properties.
“There was a lot of time and effort by a lot of people put into this, but ultimately, it is a community decision, and the community chose ‘no,’” Kendall Steffensen, Pierce Public Schools’ superintendent, notes.
Any alternative solutions for public school funding rather than property tax increases, need to be shared with Nebraska’s Governor Jim Pillen or local state senators Robert Dover or Barry DeKay.
