Warsaw R-IX District Seeks Bond For Building Improvements

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The need for improvements to the buildings of the Warsaw R-9 School District has prompted the Board of Education to ask voters to approve Proposition KIDS on April 2. The bond issue will not increase the tax rate but will give the district an $18,000,000 general bond to construct, remodel, upgrade and repair existing buildings.

According to R-9 Superintendent Scott Gemes, the district is in need of additional rooms as well as much needed remodel and repair to existing buildings. One of the biggest projects on the list is the addition of a new fifth grade wing to John Boise Middle School to free up space for Pre-K in the two elementary schools.

“One of the projects is to construct a new fifth grade wing at John Boise Middle School that will be a storm shelter for all high school and JBMS students and staff,” said Gemes. “The fifth graders will have their own wing and will have limited interaction with other middle school grade levels. We also plan to have a playground near their wing so the fifth graders will still have recess.”

Moving the fifth grade to JBMS will allow for Pre-K/ECSE students to be located at both North and South Elementary Schools. Presently, all Pre-K/ECSE students are sent to the R-9 South Elementary School because of a lack of classrooms at the North school. The district leases one trailer using ECSE funds to help pay for it for all the district Pre-K/ESCE students. All North students travel to South on a separate bus route from North. Parents with elementary students often have students in both elementary buildings.

Another project is the remodel of elementary restrooms at both North and South Elementary schools.

There are also plans to include a corridor wall replacement for South Elementary School.

Updates to playgrounds at both schools are also in the plans.

R-9 South Elementary School was constructed in 1953 and North Elementary was built in 1958.

There are also plans for Warsaw High School to have an additional set of restrooms built. There are 400 students in WHS and only one girl's and one boy's restroom at the present time.

“The additional restrooms will be near the present sophomore hallway,” said Gemes. “We plan to enclose the area between the old art room building and the music room so students will not have to walk outside to get to class.”

Gemes went on to explain that the present art department and science classes will be relocated to the area which is presently a walkway between buildings. The building located at the back of the school will be remodeled into an alternative school for students who are struggling academically, students who need credit recovery and students who need an alternative learning environment.

Another remodeling project for WHS includes the music department with plans for improvement to the WHS stage to improve sound quality for performances as well as a remodel of the band and vocal music rooms.

“We currently have two bonds,” said Gemes. “One set is to be paid off in 2026 and the other bond will be paid off in 2039. This bond would be paid off in 2044,” said Gemes.

The current Warsaw R-9 bond is $3.55. This will not change if the bond is passed.

An informational meeting about the proposed bond will be held on Monday, March 11 in the WHS gym starting at 6:00 PM.

This article is Part 1 of 4 in a series precluding the upcoming election on April 2, in an attempt to provide registered voters details that may be required to make an informed decision.