The Marshalltown Community School District School Board has approved a project recommendation from its facility committee calling for B.R. Miller Middle School to be rebuilt and renovated at the existing campus.
The committee, which includes members of the community, has thoroughly examined the facility challenges that exist at Miller Middle School, which originally opened in 1925 as Marshalltown High School. This group was also tasked with identifying potential solutions to these issues with assistance from representatives with INVISION Architecture and Boyd Jones Construction.
“We want to thank the committee members for all the time and effort they provided throughout this process,” said Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte. “Their hard work has resulted in a new vision for Miller Middle School that would allow the historic facility to serve future generations.”
The recommendation reimagines Miller by respecting its history with a vision for the future. It calls for the construction of a new education wing, commons area, kitchen, and entrance. The school’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems would be upgraded, classrooms would be expanded to become properly sized, and additional deficiencies would be addressed, among other improvements.
A $57 million bond issue approved by MCSD voters will be needed for the reconstruction of Miller Middle School to become reality. The district would also use a portion of future statewide one-cent sales tax revenue it receives from the Secure and Advanced Education (SAVE) fund to complete the project.
The list of challenges at the nearly century-old school is extensive. It includes outdated mechanical systems; classrooms 20% smaller than current academic standards; outdated classroom fixtures, furniture and finishes; narrow entryways, corridors and stairwells that do not meet current safety and security measures; student support spaces that are undersized for the current population; and moisture and water problems, among others.
The tax impact of an approved bond issue on November 5 would be $1.28 per $1,000 of taxable property, according to the financial firm Piper Sandler. This would translate to $9.37 per month for a home with a $200,000 value, or $112.43 annually.
Community members will need to gather a required number of signatures from eligible voters and receive approval from the Board of Education for a bond issue to be placed on the ballot for November 5, 2024. Bond referendums must receive 60% voter approval to pass.
More information about the district’s facility needs is available at www.marshalltowncsdfuture.com
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