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On November 3, 1998 voters of USD 343 went to the polls to vote on a $9,100,000 proposal for a new middle school and for expansion of Lecompton Elementary and Perry Elementary. The proposal was defeated 817 to 946. Shortly after that, on April 6, 1999, voters again went to the polls, this time to vote on a $14,680,000 proposal for a new high school, a conversion of the old high school to a middle school, and for additions on Lecompton Elementary and Perry Elementary. That proposal was defeated 248 to 1252.

In October 2001 the board formed a goal to develop a fiscally responsible facilities plan for the district. Within that goal the board decided to do several things. They decided that board members needed to take an active role in the study of the facilities needs of the district. They would do this by: 1. Gathering data to determine the adequacy of existing facilities; 2. Taking an active role in the study of district facilities needs, and 3. Emphasize discussions with staff, parents, and community to help determine the needs of the district.

Since the formation of that goal, the board has, indeed, taken a very active leadership role in the study of the facilities needs of the district. In addition to many work sessions and retreats, which focused on the study and discussion of facilities needs, the board toured each district facility, seeing first-hand the strengths and needs of our schools.

During the winter of the 2002-03 school year, the board conducted a public forum to discuss with patrons the facilities needs of the district. The result of that forum, which was attended by a large number of patrons, was somewhat inconclusive. Although there was much lively discussion, and many good ideas regarding the possibilities for improved facilities in the district, the message to the board was that they should develop a specific plan for presentation to the voters of the district.

The board spent the next year narrowing the options for possible plans to meet the facilities needs of the students of the district. Then, in January of this year, the board invited the members of the school site councils, representing all of the districts attendance centers, to participate in the process of further narrowing the focus on our facilities needs and possible solutions.

The partnership the board entered into with school site councils was undoubtedly the key to helping the board decide that now was the time to move forward with a proposal. Even more important, the district’s site councils provided the kind of information and support that assisted the board in finding the proposal that is best for the children of the district.

The proposal we will vote on at the November 2 election is one that has been carefully developed to meet the needs of our children now and in the foreseeable future. The board has worked long and hard, and has enlisted the help of many individuals and organizations throughout the community in arriving at the decision to ask for a vote of the patrons of this district.