SUPER MONDAY

A motivational and informational morning message from Superintendent Willis

Week 13 ~ November 6th, 2023

Super Monday Message

Happy November! Every November brings election season. No matter how we feel about candidates or issues, we should all participate. Our third President of the United States was quoted saying “We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” Piute County has a history of better than average participation and we’re grateful for that.

The information below is not to persuade you to vote one way or the other, merely to assist your voting decision. Last week the school district received more information that may be important to voters pertaining to the state grants the school district is applying for in conjunction with this bond election.

As the deadline for applications for the Small Schools Capital Projects grant has passed, the State Board of Education provided the school district with a list of all the applications they received. They received applications for 131 million dollars and they have 50 million dollars to distribute. The Piute County School District application that corresponds with this bond election is the only application that includes a school consolidation. Which likely means that it will be the highest priority application. If the bond passes it is very very likely that the school district would receive the grant funding for the consolidated school in Junction. 

The school district submitted a second application in the event that the bond election fails. The second application is for a new smaller elementary school in Circleville. Because the school district would not have the option to meet the grant requirements with a bond election in the spring, the school district would have to meet the grant requirements with a larger increase in the capital levy. The tax increase required for the second application is significantly higher than the current bond election proposal (See August tri-fold mailer from the school district). 

The second application will most likely not rank as high as the first application as it is not a school consolidation, just a replacement. However, the second application could still make it into the top 50 million dollars available. The grant committee is meeting earlier than expected on November 13th. If the school district’s first application is ranked first and the bond fails, they may allow the school district’s second application to take its place.

The grant committee’s recommendations will be reviewed and approved by the state school board on January 11, 2024. If our bond failed but our second application was approved we would likely just have a couple months to make a decision whether or not to accept the funding. The community has suggested that they would like to vote on the second option as well, if the currently proposed bond fails. That election would not be conducted by the county and would not be a formal election, more like a very formal poll organized by the school district.

If both of those votes fail, the school district would have to wait and see if the state legislature funds the grant again for another year. We have heard positive and negative in that regard recently. The positive is that there have been hints that influential people want to see the grant continue long enough for the most urgent needs to be addressed. The negative is that it is certain that the legislature will have less money to work with in this legislative session than they have had for the last two years. A concern has also been raised that the particular funding used for this grant the last two years will be needed for other statewide one-time projects this year.

As always feel free to call, email, text, or stop by with questions. Thank you for your support of Piute County schools. Have a great week 13.

Super High Fives

Just a couple of the awesome recent accomplishments that need a big thank you. 

• A super high five to the staff and volunteers at Oscarson Elementary for another successful Halloween carnival.
• A super high five to Kali Gleave at the county offices for helping answer questions about the bond election. Kali is always great to work with and great help.

Other Super Information

• The November ballot will have a question about a bond for a consolidated elementary school in Junction. Ballots were mailed out on the 31st of October. This link is to a community information folder regarding the proposal.
• This is a link to the voter information pamphlet mailed out two weeks ago. Link
• Winter Sports Schedule

Super Weekly Schedule