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Administrator’s Corner By Superintendent Dave Hamm

Bond Election

As many of you are aware, the Osmond Board of Education voted unanimously at the January meeting to hold a bond election on March 12. The purpose of this election is to determine if the community is willing to support a $4,890,000 addition to the north end of the school. 

This addition will include a fitness center open to the community, a wrestling room, a new weight room, restrooms, commons area, concession stand and a new gym. If passed, the yellow building will be torn down and all the existing school facilities will be housed together.

The request to run a bond for these purposes as been one of the priority items brought up by constituents at the community engagement meetings that the board holds annually. The board asked that a community committee be developed and lead the charge in this process. 

To that end, 14 community members, including three board members, have met six times during the past several months determining the district needs. They worked to whittle away the "wants" and focus on actual needs.

The committee has worked with Clark Enersen Partners, an architectural firm, on design and DA Davidson on the financial aspects of running a bond. Neither group receives monetary compensation unless the bond is approved.

Community meetings have been scheduled to share information. The first was held this past Monday. If you were unable to attend, another one is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. 

Please try to attend so that you can make an informed decision. Additionally, there are information brochures distributed throughout the community and here at school. Please pick one up and read through the information. There are also some large poster boards set up at various businesses with the schematic drawing and some general information. 

The vote will be by mail-in ballot. Ballots will be mailed during the last 10 days of February and must be returned in the enclosed envelope or directly to the courthouse. Only one ballot may be returned in each envelope. If more than one is returned, only the ballot from the person whose name is on the envelope will be counted. The deadline for registering to vote is Feb. 21 if registering through the DMV or on-line. You may register to vote up until Feb. 28 in person at the courthouse.

Election day is Tuesday, March 10. Only ballots physically present at the courthouse at 5 p.m. will be counted. Any ballots received in the mail after that time will not be counted, regardless of the postmark date. Results will be released that evening.

If you have any questions regarding any information about the bond, please do not hesitate to contact me. I appreciate the opportunity to sit down and discuss the process and relevant information in person. I will only share my personal thoughts if requested!

Northeast Nebraska News Company

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