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Show PTA survey indica ves support for fbond ... . . ,i i i i Reports of about 1,600 people contacted I yj PTA volunteers indicates that people ; rfio expressed their opinion, 83 percent ' 'said they felt good" about the bond, said I Merle Rambo, architect for Dana Lar-ion Lar-ion Roubal and Associates. W Rambo also told the Uintah District 3oard of Education, Thursday evening, hat nearly 60 percent of those contacted lad already made up their minds concer-ling concer-ling the bond issue. m'l The Uintah School District is proposing propos-ing to bond for no more than $17 million "ei'or a new high school and equipment, enovation of the Uintah High School and an auditorium for West Junior High School. According to the architect, who has been involved with bond elections in others areas, the Uintah School District is in a "slightly better position" than other districts should the election occur today. Rambo said that slightly over 49 percent of the people were leaning in support sup-port of the bond. Twenty percent of those contacted said they were against the bond issue. The architects of Dana Larson Roubal and Associates are compiling a list of questions pertinent to the election which will be published in a four-page brochure. Fifty to sixty volunteers will distribute the brochures some time next week. The issue of where the proposed high school will be built "is pretty much ceased," Rambo said. "Most people feel that the board made a cost-conscious decision." Last week the Board of Education unanimously supported a site on north Vernal Avenue, north of Ashley Creek, as the primary location for the new school. The major reasons for the board's selection are because of the recommendation of their architects and because the district already owns the property. School district Superintendent Phil Ellis said that he had received several reports that an alleged professional polling agency in Salt Lake City had called call-ed several people in the district to get their opinions. "When they said they favored the bond, the poller began to argue' with them." Since the first of the year the bonding index has decreased from 13.36 to as low as 9.37, but the market may have bottomed bottom-ed out as the index is beginning to rise. "This indicates to me that as soon as the election is over (if it is successful) we need to work fast," said the district's fiscal agent Kimball Young. Board members were assigned to two radio talk shows. Blayne Morrill and Thomas Howells will be on the KNEU program Cross Roads Feb. 18 at 10 a.m., and Gary Taylor and Garth Atwood will , be on the KVEL program forum 920 Feb. 14 at 6 p.m. Some of the questions the school board members and other volunteers may be facing are: 1. Will the new school contain a lot of frills? School district answer: The district is interested in building an economical school. It will be designed to provide basic, quality and comprehensive programs pro-grams for the students who attend that school. Since schools are built to be used us-ed for approximately 50 years, we will consider constructing one that will be sound, as well as utilize energy efficient concepts. 2. What will it cost for the payback of the bond? Answer: There is presently a favorable bond market. Bond interest rates are at 94 percent and should drop another half percent. By using a 91 2 per- cent interest rate, tne yearly oonu payment pay-ment would be $1,622,345 on $12,700,000 for 15 years. The state of Utah will buy $4.3 million of our bonds at a 5 percent ' interest rate; that payment is $556,870 for 10 years. The total payment on the $17 million would be $29,903,875 or $12,903,875 in interest. 3. Why a bond issue now? Answer: By bonding now, the Uintah School District can take advantage of low interest rates. The cost to the district of meeting the need of a new high school and an auditorium at West Junior High School cannot be met on a pay-as-we go ; basis. As long as the district's new - "building needs was substantially less, paying-as-we-went worked. But, with the growth of our junior high school-age students, we are only looking at more crowding and double sessions, not only at the junior high level, but also in our high school, unless we bond now. 4. Why not use more temporaries? Answer: Portable classrooms can be used when permanent buildings are not available or affordable. A case in point are the six portable classrooms in place at Naples Elementary Elemen-tary School. Originally thought to be a temporary solution to overcrowding. These classrooms have been at Naples for eight years. While adequate, they are not as acceptable as rooms in the permanent school building. 5. What are the educational needs to justify a new high school?. Answer: This year the Uintah School District experienced the largest increase in its history in pupil population. Six-hundred ninety-three additional students were enrolled in school over a year ago. This is more students than are presently present-ly in the Ashley Elementary School. The Uintah School District has the highest percentage increase of student population popula-tion in the State of Utah for the 1982-1983 school year. As the numbers increase, the quality of educational programs will perhaps suffer if adequate classroom space is not provided. A careful study of the present facility indicated some deficiencies. defi-ciencies. The facility was planned for a student population of 500 and although the bulding has been added onto; for classroom space, some areas of the building do not lend themselves to either further expansion nor upgrading to meet the population demands. |