Ravenna's proposed bond project to focus on school safety and modernization

RAVENNA, Neb. - A Central Nebraska School District is proposing a bond project which will go towards upgrades that officials say will make the school safer and more modern.

The Ravenna Public School District is asking residents to vote in March on a proposed bond aimed at improving the school’s facilities, with a focus on safety, inclusion and modernizing learning spaces.

The targeted areas include the career, agriculture, and technical education classrooms in addition to a new weight room and improved special education facilities. 

The proposal also includes the construction of a central, more secure entrance for students which will greatly limit the travel between buildings during the school day.

Ravenna Superintendent Ken Schroeder says about 150 students travel back and forth several times a day between the main building and detached classrooms.

He said the entrance and construction is a priority because "if we're having any type of a situation where there might be an unwanted guest on the grounds and we need to secure our perimeter it's a lot more functional to do that if we're all under one roof and we don't have that separation between the current north buildings and the main building.”

Schroeder says residents would likely see a slight decrease in the school district's tax levy rate for the first year after the bond passes.

The district’s levy rate is expected to drop from 71 cents to around 68.8 cents due to the removal of funds from certain accounts used for building improvements.

Schroeder said  “If the taxpayers approve the bond, then we'll have the money to do the needed upgrades and we’ll be able to greatly decrease the levy on the capital purpose undertaking fund and in the special building fund, which will have an impact on the overall levy. So even though we're adding some bond debt we're removing some tax levies in other funds which is going to ultimately bring that total levy amount down by a couple cents.”

If the bond is approved in the March vote, construction is set to begin in September 2025 with an expected completion date of December 2026. 

During construction, students will continue to use their current classrooms until the new spaces are ready.

The RPS Board of Education announced the special election will take place by mail on March 11 for a school bond to not exceed $5,500,000.

Schroeder emphasized that the current floor plans are conceptual and open to public input, and that Ravenna Public Schools will host two public meetings to provide additional information about the school bond election. 

These meetings will be on Monday, February 10 at 8 p.m. and Wednesday, February 19 at 7 p.m. Find more renderings at www.ravennabond.com.