Ag facility, middle school addition focus of Logan-Rogersville bond issue

An agricultural center, updated classrooms and a middle school addition are key projects in a $24 million bond issue proposed by the Logan-Rogersville R-VIII School District.

If approved, the 2,515-student district east of Springfield will launch renovation or construction projects at three buildings: the high school, middle school and upper elementary.

The proposal is a no tax increase ballot measure, meaning the district’s property tax levy will not change. Approval will allow the district to take on more debt, which will be paid off over time using the current debt-service property tax levy of 93 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

“The entire community but especially the city, we have added a ton of homes in the last handful of years,” said Superintendent Rocky Valentine, who previously worked in Sparta and Marshfield.

“There’s a lot of development happening throughout our district, which is exciting. It has been at a moderate level that we can pass bonds and keep growing as we need to, not feeling like we’re behind.”

Despite more families moving in, Valentine said enrollment growth has been steady and manageable. The most recent demographic study predicted the district will reach nearly 2,600 students by 2030.

“Our district has been forward-focused, making sure it is a planned-out approach,” he said.

If the bond is approved, existing middle school classrooms will be renovated and new classrooms for fine and practical arts will be added. There will be more space for band and choir.

A proposed addition would add classrooms and link the existing middle school to an older building on campus.

“We’re one of the few schools around that still have a middle school shop program,” Valentine said.

He said the plan is to revamp that hands-on learning space to expand Project Lead The Way courses in science, technology, engineering and math.

“We want to connect these buildings, making this more of our STEM shop, taking that old-school idea and revitalizing it with engineering and STEM,” he said, noting robotics are also part of the plan. “We have a class called green engineering, which is really cool.”

Updated lighting, parking improvements and an expanded safety office are also on the project list.

At the Logan-Rogersville Upper Elementary, the district wants to update lighting, improve a walking track and playground, and renovate classrooms, the kitchen and east gym.

If approved, the bond will pay for upgraded roofs, parking, heating, ventilation and air conditioning across the district.

There is an existing agricultural building at the high school, which has classroom and shop space. The bond includes funds to add an agricultural and animal sciences center, for hands-on learning and demonstrations, on the adjacent eight-acre school farm.

“We have a really strong ag and FFA program at Logan-Rogersville. Our district prioritizes providing a variety of opportunities for students so they can find their spot, what works for them,” said school board president Sara Tipton. “We want everyone to reach their fullest potential, and that doesn’t look the same for every student.”

Tipton said the school farm will be used by students throughout the district who can visit to learn about programs and career options.

As part of the creation of a long-range plan, Tipton said a series of town hall meetings were used to develop a priority list of projects. The stakeholder input shaped voter-approved bond issues in 2019 and 2022.

“We started a list of projects that we wanted to do and it was clear we couldn’t just knock them out,” she said. “It was going to be something that we needed to approach thoughtfully, and it was going to take some time.”

She said the April bond issue is the next step.

“It is a continuation of the work that we’ve already done, the commitment the community has shown to the district,” she said. “We want to continue to provide opportunities for our students and make sure that our facilities are meeting their needs.”