Lamoni School Board Greenlights $8.25 Million Facility Plan; November Bond Referendum Set
LAMONI, IA — Taking a major step toward updating local school infrastructure, the Lamoni School Board has voted unanimously to accept a community task force’s recommendation for an $8.25 million district-wide facility improvement plan.
The comprehensive package aims to address critical structural and security needs across all grade levels. The plan features a full restoration of the elementary school, exterior repairs/upgrades to the middle school, and vital safety and security overhauls at the high school, including a new secured entry to the high school, and HVAC and fire system improvements.
To fund the upgrades without placing the entire financial burden on immediate tax rates, the district is utilizing a strategic combination of two distinct funding mechanisms:
- $2.5 Million in SAVE Bonds: The district will leverage $2.5 million through Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) bonds. These bonds utilize Iowa’s statewide penny sales tax dedicated specifically to school infrastructure, allowing the district to fund a significant portion of the work using existing sales tax revenue rather than local property taxes.
- $5.75 Million General Obligation (GO) Bond: The remaining $5.75 million will be put before local voters in a community referendum scheduled for the upcoming November 2026 ballot.
"This proposal is the direct result of months of careful review by our community task force," said Nate Pierschbacher. "By pairing our local SAVE sales tax funds with a General Obligation bond, we are able to maximize our budget, protect taxpayer investments, and ensure our students have safe, modern environments to learn and grow."
The board's decision comes after a detailed facility condition assessment highlighted aging infrastructure and areas where building security needed to be brought up to modern standards. Over the coming months, the district plans to host a series of informational community forums to share architectural concepts, detailed financial data, and specific project timelines with local residents ahead of the November vote.
Full details regarding the upcoming referendum and the community task force's specific structural recommendations will be made available on the school district's website.