DECEMBER 8: A critical day for our students

We're asking for your support to approve a referendum that will add new schools and prevent overcrowding.

NO TAX INCREASE WILL BE NEEDED!

Appoquinimink experienced strong growth this year enrolling nearly 400 new students. Over the course of the past three years, we have welcomed a total of 1,500 new learners to our district.

These numbers confirm our projections and emphasize the need to be prepared for what the future has in store. Without new buildings, we will exceed our current capacity in grades PK-5 by the fall of 2011 - just three years away!

But, thanks to a unique set of circumstances, we are able to ask our community for approval to build two new facilities and make much-needed renovations at four more locations - without increasing taxes.

A number of factors have made this possible:

• $2.5 million in impact fees - formally referred to as "voluntary assessment" money - has been collected from developers and will be applied to the local cost of construction.
• Our assessment base is growing. The new homes being built are helping to contribute toward the debt that was authorized in the 1980's and 1990's. They also contribute to the new construction.
• We will be paying off some previously issued bonds and continue to pay down others, reducing our district's debt.
• The State of Delaware's strong bond rating (Triple-A) allows us to borrow at relatively low rates.
• We are managing our money very effectively and maximizing interest earnings.
• The end result: NO TAX INCREASE!

• A new 330-student Early Childhood Center.
• A new 840-student Elementary School.
• A wing will be added at Olive B. Loss Elementary to replace the trailers currently in use, and we will expand the cafeteria and multi-purpose room.
• Older classrooms and the reception area at Townsend Elementary will be renovated to create more useable space and the HVAC system will be updated for energy efficiency.
• A serving kitchen will be added at the Appoquinimink Early Childhood Center (built before full-day kindergarten became a reality) in order to make hot meals available to our four and five-year olds.
• Finally, the stage at Everett Meredith Middle School will be updated so we no longer need to rent sound and light equipment to support performances at the school.
• Included in the referendum is the purchase of a parcel of land - on Old State Road - which, over time, will house not only these two schools (Phase One) but could also accommodate future growth in the district.

How much will the construction cost?

The construction projects in the 2009 Referendum represent a $64,649,100.00 investment. The state has committed to fund the vast majority of these costs - a 75% share representing a $48,486,900.00 - through the sale of government bonds. District residents will fund the remaining 25% - representing an investment of $16,162,200 - locally. As explained above, this will be accomplished without increasing the local tax rate.