• The District will use Prop L funds to further enhance safety and security in our facilities. 
  
  

• Possible items may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Final SafeDefend phase (boxes in all classrooms)
  • Upgraded surveillance cameras
  • Additional window safety film
  • Intercoms (Duello, Timberland, and others as needed)
  • Upgraded fire panels and devices (Boone Trail, Duello, Heritage, Holt, Timberland, Liberty, Wentzville Middle, and others as needed)
  • Security Guard Houses (Holt, Liberty, North Point, Timberland)
  • Cell Repeaters (Duello, Frontier, Liberty, Admin Center)

• As promised, the District used Props C and S funds to create a more secure school environment. In three phases, the WSD Safety and Security Committee voted to implement enhanced secure school access through Raptor, added ID/fob entry, approved the purchase of window safety film on all first-level windows, and approved the purchase of SafeDefend boxes in school classrooms. 

• Prop L would enhance safety and security measures at all WSD schools. 

• With the District’s focus on growth and building many new schools over the past few decades, the WSD hasn't been able to prioritize its legacy buildings like Heritage Elementary, Boone Trail Elementary, Wentzville Middle School, and Holt High School. These legacy schools require some attention to meet the District's facility standards.

• This bond would enable the District to make the following improvements in our legacy buildings: 

• • Heritage Elementary - A major renovation will transform the school, improving building function and safety with a new, full-size gymnasium doubling as a storm shelter large enough for the entire school. The oldest wing of the building will be demolished, and a new addition will be added in a more centralized location with ADA improvements implemented. Traffic flow will be improved with centralized parking, a new bus lane, and redesigned traffic patterns. The entire school will receive a refresh with new lighting, ceiling tiles, paint, flooring, doors, and an upgraded intercom system, along with renovations to the administrative and nurses' offices and a modernized library. Finally, students will enjoy a brand-new playground.
    
    
    
    

  • Holt High School - Interior improvements will include new lighting, ceiling grids and tiles, fresh paint, updated flooring, new doors, and a modern intercom system. Structural maintenance will be addressed through tuckpointing, while the removal of outdated lockers will create more usable space for students. The gymnasium glass blocks will be updated, and the auditorium will receive upgrades. Finally, the school's athletic facilities will be significantly improved for student-athletes, with a turf replacement football field and a track enhanced with additional lanes to ensure MSHSAA competition compliance.
    
    
    
    

  • Wentzville Middle School - Undergo substantial renovations to enhance the learning environment and infrastructure. Interior upgrades include new lighting, ceiling grids and tiles, fresh paint, updated flooring, and new doors. Address tuckpointing and replace cabinetry. Upgrades to the building envelope will enhance energy efficiency and weather protection. Finally, the nurse's office will be relocated to a more centralized location to provide a more functional space for health services.
    
    
    
    

  • Boone Trail & Green Tree elementary schools - Both elementary schools will receive front office renovations focused on creating a more welcoming and functional environment. The spaces will be redesigned to provide an improved entry experience for families. Boone Trail’s nurse's office will also be modernized to better serve student health needs.

Improvements may include, and are not limited to the items listed above. 

Included in Prop L is resurfacing all elementary school playgrounds to improve accessibility and replacing turf at Holt, Liberty, and Timberland high schools. Liberty and Timberland will also get new lighting on the turf fields. 

Assuming top priority projects come in favorable to the estimated budget, items included but not limited to the following list may be considered to be addressed with bond funds. 

• Auditorium Upgrades
• South Middle Traffic Patterns
• Aging Buried Infrastructure
• HVAC & Roofing Beyond Five-Year Replacement Budget 
• Site lighting improvements
• Holt Main Entrance
• Crossroads Main Canopy
• Harris Centralized Warehouse
• Districtwide Energy Conservation
• LED Signage-High School Campuses
• Admin Center Addition for Boardroom
• Storm Shelters
• Land Purchase

The Prop L estimates listed above include allocations for infrastructure needs, such as plumbing, electrical work, and more.  While some infrastructure needs are anticipated, there are also financial contingency plans to address others that may arise during construction. To prepare for any unknowns, we’ve set aside contingency funds (noted above in the Cost Estimate ranges provided). The use of estimated ranges (noted above) provides coverage for such instances. 

These funds are already allocated for the construction of REACH/ECC and for deferred maintenance across the District. This includes items such as HVAC at Timberland High School and Boone Trail Elementary, as well as lighting, ceiling grid work, and a new intercom system at Boone Trail.

Prop L impacts the debt service levy of the district, which is about 20% of the total tax levy.

• The revenue from this portion of the levy can only be used to pay off the long-term debt of the district.

If the district receives additional revenue in the debt service account due to the construction of new homes and businesses, the district can only use these funds to pay off the district debt. 

• These additional funds cannot be used on building projects.

Since 2023, the district has pre-paid over $20 million of bonds which eliminated more than $3 million of future interest payments.

Prop L would not refinance existing bonds, it would issue new bonds. Current conservative estimates project the interest rate on these bonds to be 5%. The actual interest rate would depend on the market rate at the time the bonds are sold.

An aggressive timeline for these changes to occur would be 2.5-3 years. A more formal timeline would be established after funds are secured and the construction bidding process begins.

The current turf fields at Holt, Liberty, and Timberland high schools were funded by Prop E, as a result of other Prop E construction projects being completed favorable to budget. These fields are used by football, soccer, band, cheer, dance, track and cross country, PE classes, and other student activities. 

The turf fields at these buildings were installed in 2016, making them 9 years old (with an 8-year warranty). The life expectancy of a synthetic turf football field typically ranges from 8 to 10 years. 

As a synthetic turf football field ages, its safety can decline due to wear and tear, though the extent depends on maintenance, usage, and initial quality. Over time, key components like the turf fibers, infill, and underlying shock pad degrade, causing the G-Max safety rating (a measure of surface hardness) to decline, increasing injury risks, and reducing playability.

The District could address the facility needs listed above to keep WSD buildings up to date and in good condition, maintaining district facilities and preserving prior investments  in those facilities. The tax rate would remain the same; it would not increase or decrease, whether the bond passes or not.

The District would not be able to address many of the facility needs identified above. The District identified facility priorities would remain unaddressed, which could lead to higher long-term maintenance costs. The tax rate would remain the same; it would not increase or decrease, whether the bond passes or not. We would pay off existing bonds on their current schedule.

Zero-rate-change bonds allow school districts to borrow money for projects without increasing the current tax rate. This is possible because existing debt is being paid off, creating room for new debt within the current tax levy.

No. The tax rate would remain the same; it would not increase or decrease, whether the bond passes or not.

Yes, the current bonds issued by WSD are projected to be paid off in 2040. The projections for Prop L extend the pay-off date until 2046. 

The District's tax rate is the lowest it has been in more than a decade at $4.6532. 

Mostly recently, Prop C funded critical improvements, including the construction of North Point Middle School, additions to South and Frontier middle schools (allowing the return of sixth graders from elementary to middle school buildings), and a refreshed cafeteria at Wentzville Middle. Responsible budgeting allowed the District to complete these projects and build a new REACH and Early Childhood Center with the remaining funds.

Prop C also contributed to funding Phase I of district-wide safety and security upgrades, including the additions of the Raptor check-in system, keyless building entry for staff, window safety film, and SafeDefend threat prevention devices.

Bond funds, like those from Prop L, can only be used for major construction and renovation projects (capital improvements). They cannot be used for ongoing operating expenses like staff salaries. To address staff salaries, the district would need to pursue an operating tax levy, which is a separate funding mechanism.

The Senior Tax Freeze in St. Charles County does not apply to the debt service portion of school taxes, which is what this bond (Prop L) affects. Therefore, Prop L will not change the amount seniors pay for this portion of their taxes. Their taxes could still increase if their property value is reassessed, but that would happen regardless of whether Prop L passes.