- Clear Creek Amana CSD
- Public Bond 2022 Election and Updates
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Clear Creek Amana Passes $65 Million Bond Referendum
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March 3, 2022
Clear Creek Amana Community School District is proud to announce that voters in the Clear Creek Amana community have approved the passage of the $65 million bond referendum, in support of Clear Creek Amana Schools.
The passed ballot language: Shall the Board of Directors of the Clear Creek Amana Community School District in the Counties of Iowa and Johnson, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $65,000,000 to be used to build, furnish, and equip a new elementary school, including related site improvements; to build, furnish, and equip new playground spaces and to remodel, repair, and improve existing playground spaces at the District’s elementary facilities; to build, furnish, and equip additions (improvements) to the District’s middle and high school facilities, including fine arts space at the Middle School and the High School; career and technical vocational space at the high school; replace and improve the middle school roof; and related site improvements at the middle school and the high school?
District leaders, staff and the Board of Directors wish to thank every voter who participated in supporting the bond referendum. Interim Superintendent Joseph Brown said, “The super majority YES vote for a new elementary school, vocational center, and expansions of the high school and middle school fine arts facilities is a solid indicator of the support our community has for the future educational facilities for our students. Thanks for your continued support for Clear Creek Amana schools”
As the District moves forward to develop the plans, timelines and expected completion of bond-related projects, that information will be shared regularly through the District’s web site and other communication outlets.
There were a total of 949 out of 10,526 registered voters who participated in the successful election.
A special bond election requires a 60% supermajority vote and the unofficial numbers indicate the March 1 election passed at 75.6%. First canvass is March 8, second canvass is March 15. All results are unofficial until after the second canvass.
BUILDING FOR OUR FUTURE
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BALLOT LANGUAGE
Shall the Board of Directors of the Clear Creek Amana Community School District in the Counties of Iowa and Johnson, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $65,000,000 to be used to build, furnish, and equip a new elementary school, including related site improvements; to build, furnish, and equip new playground spaces and to remodel, repair, and improve existing playground spaces at the District’s elementary facilities; to build, furnish, and equip additions (improvements) to the District’s middle and high school facilities, including fine arts space at the Middle School and the High School; career and technical vocational space at the high school; replace and improve the middle school roof; and related site improvements at the middle school and the high school?
BOND REFERENDUM DETAILS
- General obligation tax bonds are used to build schools and additions.
- General obligation bonds cannot be used to fund teacher salaries or programming needs.
- The amount of bonding capacity within a district is determined by its debt and its ability to pay off the debt.
- Bonds cannot be sold without voter approval at an election called a referendum.
WHO CAN VOTE?
Clear Creek Amana Community School District residents 18 years of age and older can vote on March 1. A nonregistered voter can sign up to vote at their voting location by providing proof of age and residence.
In order for the referendum to be successful, 60% of voters must vote yes.
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COMMUNITY TOWN HALL MEETINGS
If you would like to learn more about the bond referendum for the 2022 bond projects, we invite you to attend a community town hall meeting. There will be a presentation with the opportunity for questions.
- February 1, 2022, 6:30 PM at Clear Creek Elementary
- February 5, 2022, 10:00 AM at Tiffin Elementary
- February 7, 2022, 6:30 PM at Amana Elementary
- February 8, 2022, 6:30 PM at North Bend Elementary
Meetings have concluded at this time.
Town Hall Presentation
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why is the bond referendum needed?
Our enrollment is outgrowing our current facilities. North Bend Elementary and Tiffin Elementary will be over capacity by 2023. By building a new elementary school, we can relieve capacity at our existing elementary schools and accommodate the families moving into our district.
The Fine Arts programs have outgrown their current facilities at both the high school and middle school. Career Technology Education (CTE) programs require additional space. Relocating CTE classrooms and adding additional flexible classrooms to the high school will increase educational programming options for students.
It is important to the district to provide safe and inclusive playground equipment therefore a successful bond referendum will improve existing playground spaces for all elementary buildings in the district.
Why build in Coralville?
Because it is a proposed high growth area in our school district.
Tiffin, North Liberty and Coralville are three of the fastest growing communities in the state and the majority of residential developments in our school district continue to come from these cities. Placing a school in Coralville will provide a neighborhood school for the CCA students moving into this area like the other CCA neighborhood schools throughout our district. Neighborhood schools provide a bigger sense of community, more opportunities for school/parent involvement with a school close by, healthier lifestyles for students who walk and ride bikes to school and overall convenience and cost savings for both the school and parents.
Was this part of a long range facilities plan?
Yes, the planning for this bond started in 2019 with the Facilities Advisory Committee of teachers, administrators and volunteers. Multiple options were evaluated. The options were presented for public input, approved by the Board, and shortly after it was put on hold due to the COVID pandemic. Link to earlier planning.
Where is the current shop for the high school?
The high school was once in the middle school location. In 2009 the new high school was opened but the shop was not relocated so high school students split the time with middle school students at the middle school and have limited vocational opportunities.
Who would benefit from expanded Career Technical Education (CTE) and Fine Arts additions?
Students in grades 6-12 will use the expanded space and career-ready programming.
Will this raise my taxes?
The district will maintain the current tax rate of 17.059. Our growth is not only in student enrollment but also in the commercial and residential tax base, which allows us to keep a fairly stable tax rate.
Why is the Clear Creek Amana Community School District growing?
CCA continues to be one of the fastest growing districts in the state, adding 150-200 students a year. Many families choose to relocate to the District because of our schools, staff, and high-quality educational programming. The District is also located in a desirable location along the intersection of I-380 and I-80 in the Eastern Iowa Corridor where Iowa City and Cedar Rapids help to promote commercial and residential growth. Tiffin, North Liberty and Coralville are three of the fastest growing cities in Iowa and are in the Clear Creek Amana Community School District.
2020 Census Results Growth Change from 2010 Census:
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- -5.4%. Amana Colonies
- -10.5% Oxford
- 131.7% Tiffin
- 50.16%. North Liberty
- 18%. Coralville
What happens if the bond referendum doesn't pass?
The district would be required to delay construction plans. In six months, petitions would be presented to the board to call another election for the referendum. Due to the delay, the cost of the facilities and improvements would more than likely experience an increase.
Without building elementary building #6, the District would be faced with tough decisions that could adversely impact classroom sizes, programming and opportunities for students. Given that elementary enrollment is expected to increase by 700 students in the next 5 years, we may need to explore the following alternatives:
- Starting in 2023-2024, elementary students will need to be redistributed due to capacity limits at North Bend Elementary, Tiffin Elementary, Oak Hill Elementary and Clear Creek Elementary.
- Possible redistribution by grade level to other elementary schools and increased bussing throughout the district.
- Increased student to teacher ratio in elementary classrooms.
- Possible elimination of Pre-K programs (if not required by legislation).
- Possible portable classrooms.
- It may be a combination of solutions.
Is the softball/baseball complex included in the bond?
Currently, the school board is setting aside $250,000 annually of SAVE* funds for improvements to the softball and baseball fields. This will allow the district to bond for less money.
* Secure an Advanced Vision for Education: This funding stream was formerly known as the statewide school infrastructure sales and services tax and also known as the local option sales and services tax for school infrastructure. Moneys received for school infrastructure purposes shall be utilized solely for school infrastructure needs or school district property tax relief.
What is the general timeline/order to which the projects will go?
Instructional capacity and maintaining small classroom sizes are important to the district and our families. Therefore, the elementary building will be a priority and construction of the other projects will be spaced out very similar to previous bond referendums approved by the CCA community. Timing of the projects is dependent on cash flow and availability. e.g. the current high school addition is the last project from the 2017 bond referendum.
What road access will be available to the new school?
https://www.ccaschools.org/cms/lib/IA50000066/Centricity/Domain/3526/2022-01-27 Coralville Public Exhibit 1.pdf
https://www.ccaschools.org/cms/lib/IA50000066/Centricity/Domain/3526/2022-01-27 Coralville Public Exhibit 2.pdf
Is the proposed vocational center at the high school on a flood plain?
No, the south end of the high school property is not a flood plain.
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IMPACT ON SCHOOL TAX LEVY
The district will maintain the current tax rate of 17.059. Our growth is not only in student enrollment but also in the commercial and residential tax base, which allows us to keep a fairly stable tax rate.
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WHEN AND HOW CAN I VOTE?
February 9 is the first day absentee ballots can be mailed and the first day in-person early voting is allowed in the auditor's office.
Request for mailed absentee ballots may be requested anytime between now and February 14. Absentee ballots cannot be mailed out after February 14 but in-person early voting is available in the auditor's office through February 28 during normal business hours. (Offices are closed February 21 for the President's Day holiday.)
Polls are open 7:00 am – 8:00 pm on Tuesday, March 1. Vote at new regular polling places. Due to the 2022 reprecincting process, your precinct and polling place may have changed.
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POLLING PLACES
VOTING LOCATION UPDATEThis election will use vote centers instead of regular polling places. All voters within the Clear Creek Amana Community School District may use ANY of the vote centers below. Polls are open 7:00 am – 8:00 pm on Tuesday, March 1.Kirkwood Regional Center2301 Oakdale Blvd., CoralvilleNorth Bend Elementary School2230 St. Andrews Dr., North LibertyNorth Liberty City Hall3 Quail Creek Cir., North LibertyNorth Liberty Recreation Center520 W. Cherry St., North LibertyClear Creek Elementary School230 W. Wilson St., OxfordWaldschmidt Hall2012 400th St. SW, OxfordCCA West Campus Building331 W. Marengo Rd., TiffinTiffin Elementary School104 N. Park Rd., Tiffin -
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Encourage others to learn more about the bond referendum and to vote. The vote will impact all grades PK-12.
IN THE NEWS
ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS PRESENTED AT THE JANUARY 19, 2022 BOARD MEETING
LONG-TERM GOALS
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Clear Creek Amana School Board Long-term goals:
- Support neighborhood schools. The growth in Coralville warrants a neighborhood school like other neighborhoods in our district that already have an attendance center.
- Reduces transportation costs and students spend less time on buses.
- Retain small class sizes
- Be responsible: the board has followed through on past bond obligations
- Provide comprehensive vocational and career technology education opportunities for all students
Guiding Principles and Quick Facts:
- The ideal capacity of a new elementary building to accommodate future growth is 600
- The current Middle School band room has a capacity for 70 students and there are currently a total of 154 band students in 6 - 8th grades.
- Currently, grades PK - 6 have 200+ students per grade level with 1st grade at 275 students.
- The 10 year enrollment outlook estimates 4,500 students and 4,000 in 5 years.
*District growth projections are provided by RSP and Associates, a service enlisted by the District to assist the District with our growth and planning for future growth. The firm’s analysis indicated that district growth will continue to be around 150 - 200 students per year.