On Tuesday, May 9 voters in the Lennox School District will go to the polls to vote on a $17 million bond project that will add an auxiliary gym, a larger weight room, two additional varsity locker rooms a new designated activities lobby, a remodeled kitchen and cafeteria, along with a new performing arts center.
To provide more information to the voters, two informational meetings were scheduled. The first of those meetings was held last Thursday, Apr. 20 at the Lennox High School cafetorium and the second will be held this Thursday, May 4 at 7 p.m. at the LHS cafetorium.
Polls will open at 7 a.m. and remain open until 7 p.m. on May 9 for voters.
Voters in Precinct 1 will vote at the Worthing Fire Station. Precinct 1 includes all of Lennox School District No.41-4 lying within: LaValley, Lincoln and Lynn Townships, including the Town of Worthing and Sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 25, 26, 35 and 36 in Perry Township and Sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, 14, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 33, 34, 35 and 36 of Grant township and all sections East of Hwy 17 in Delaware Township all in Lincoln County, SD.
Voters in Precinct 2 will vote at Chancellor City Hall. Precinct 2 includes all of Lennox School District No. 41-4 lying within: Turner County including the city of Chancellor and all sections West of Hwy 17 in Delaware township and all sections West of Hwy 17 in Delapre Township and Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18 in Perry Township and Sections 19, 20, 29, 30, 31, 32 in Grant Township all in Lincoln County, SD.
Voters in Precinct 3 will vote at LWC Intermediate School. Precinct 3 includes all of Lennox School District No. 41-4 lying within: Minnehaha County, all sections East of Hwy 17 in Delapre Township and Sections 3, 4, 9, 10, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34 of Perry Township including the City of Lennox and Sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18 of Grant Township all in Lincoln County, SD.
The new bond, which will be structured on a 25-year repayment schedule, will see a tax levy of $1.01 per $1,000.
When a study was conducted by the District in 2022, it was noted that shared spaces were being strained with the growing student population, which has grown in the junior high and high school to 546 students, a rise of 119 students from the 2015-2016 school year.
The new proposed building project addresses this concern.
The kitchen remodel will create two lines of service, speeding up the amount of time kids are in line waiting for lunch. Currently six lunches operate between the hours of 10:40 a.m. and 1 p.m. Two lines would create flexibility in the schedule and allow for quicker serving times.
The addition of an auxiliary gym would allow the District to have more flexibility in the current schedule for physical education classes between high school and junior high classes. In adding the auxiliary gym, the district could also run multiple games at home, which would also increase the need for additional locker rooms, something this proposed plan would also include.
The performing arts center would have between 800 and 900 seats. This addition would alleviate the need for the shared space of lunchroom and performing arts, currently called the cafetorium. This addition would not only open up the current cafetorium for additional lunchroom tables, it would also give a dedicated space for band, choir, plays and other concerts, something that is lacking in the current configuration.
The larger weight room proposal is to create more efficiency in moving students through their workouts. The District believes the increased space would also allow for more comprehensive training programs.
These proposed project will require the passage of a bond, and a 60% majority vote in favor of issuing the bonds at an election
Should the bond pass, Architecture Incorporated will immediately begin work on engineered drawings and bid documents to be finished on or around October 2023. The District anticipates receiving bids back and awarding the project on or around December of 2023 with construction of the project tentatively starting in April of 2024 with a completion date on or around July of 2025.
If the bond does not pass, the district will utilize available funds to remodel the kitchen to accommodate two serving lines but most likely not until 2025-26 school year. All other proposed aspects of this project would be put on hold for future evaluation.
A FAQ document and PowerPoint presentation about the project can be found on the District’s website: www.lennox.k12.sd.us