NICKERSON, Kan. — After some spirited discussion, the Nickerson USD 309 School Board approved a resolution that officially kicks off the effort to pass a major facilities improvement bond issue.

On just a 4-3 vote, the board recently approved a $29.9 million bond proposal for improvements to district schools over 25 years. Before the vote, Board President Dan Schweizer asked the board to reconsider its position and go for a lower bond issue. “I abhor the board to consider two questions, one around that $18 million,” Schweizer said. “Our survey we spent almost $14,000 on said $18.5. If you want to have question two, go up to $30 million, so be it.” Schweizer stressed to the board his belief that the bond would pass at the lower amount.

But Board Vice President Jason Ontjes countered by saying this is what was presented to them and the decision to go with one question on the ballot for the approved amount did not come lightly. “We evaluated all of that on Monday in a meeting called specifically to do that. Each one of these board members spent their time diligently going through this entire process,” Ontjes said. “We came up with a 6-1 favor on one vote and a 5-2 vote on the twenty-nine point nine figure. And we didn’t come to that decision just on a whim.”

Several members who were on the steering committee spoke in favor of the lesser bond amount and adding a second question to increase the amount if desired by the public.

Schweizer was critical of the decision to proceed with the current proposal saying a district as poor as USD 309 cannot take on a $190 per year property tax hike. “It’s not just us who needs money. This flood is going to affect everyone and we don’t even realize some of the expenses that lay ahead of us,” Schweizer noted. “I think this is a very poor time to bet on a 21-mill increase. We’re going to raise . . . property taxes 45% in one shot.”

The decision to proceed with the bond issue comes following more than a year of planning and a recent survey that showed positive feedback from district patrons, though the board was divided on the issue again Monday night.

Superintendent Dr. Dawn Johnson says they will start a campaign to convince voters in the district to approve the bond issue.