RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City Area Schools voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to approve a $107 million bond that would fund HVAC improvements, school security projects, renovations and a new elementary school as the district works to address aging facilities and growth across Rapid City.

The proposal includes $32 million for HVAC and energy efficiency improvements at Horace Mann Elementary, Meadowbrook Elementary and North Middle School; $3 million for safety and security upgrades at Black Hawk, Grandview and Knollwood elementary schools and Southwest and West middle schools; $12 million for an addition and renovation at South Park Elementary; $40 million for a new elementary school on district-owned Parkview property; and $20 million for safety and security improvements at Stevens High School.

Coy Sasse, Rapid City Area Schools chief financial and operations officer, said the projects grew out of the district’s facilities master planning process, which identified five major areas of concern: safety and security, HVAC and air quality, aging elementary schools, growth and overcrowding, and issues with the layout and security of Stevens High School.

The Parkview project would also allow the district to close Robbinsdale Elementary as an enrollment center. Sasse said Robbinsdale is one of the district’s oldest schools and has significant facility needs.

District officials say the bond would also free up existing capital outlay money for other facility work. Sasse said RCAS plans to invest another $79 million from capital outlay in facilities during the next 10 years, with work already underway on the Rapid Valley expansion and renovation project. Combined with routine capital projects, he said the plan would allow the district to address every building and provide fully operational HVAC systems districtwide during that period.

The district’s last successful bond was approved in 1973. Sasse said RCAS has completed $303 million in major projects since then using capital outlay funds. Those dollars also pay for needs including buses, vehicles, technology, debt service and curriculum, limiting how much is available for major building projects.

Under current district estimates, the proposed bond would cost 49 cents per $1,000 of property valuation. That would equal an estimated $196 annually for a property valued at $400,000. The bond would be repaid over a period of up to 20 years.

Bond proceeds could not be used for teacher salaries or other operating expenses. Sasse said state law restricts the district to spending the money on projects specified in the referendum. Bond funds would also be kept separately from other district money and undergo a separate annual audit. The district plans to provide public updates showing project progress and spending.

If the measure does not pass, Sasse said the district would continue pursuing the projects through its facilities master plan, but estimated the work could be delayed eight to more than 20 years depending on available resources. District estimates put potential additional inflation and financing costs at between $37 million and $90 million.

The referendum requires approval from 60% of votes cast to pass under South Dakota law.