Preparing for Fairview’s Future
Fairview’s Board of Education and district leaders take great pride in the educational partnership they share with the community. Together, we carry out the mission of delivering an exceptional educational program to more than 1700 students each year.
The Board of Education is looking toward the future of Fairview Public Schools, while continuing its fiscal responsibility to the taxpayers of Fairview. Those are the driving forces behind a bond referendum to fund the construction of a new middle school.
Why have a Referendum?
“Referendum” is another word for “vote” A bond referendum asks voters for permission to borrow funds through the sale of bonds. A bond referendum is used specifically for improvements that are large and long-lasting, like construction. It cannot be used for daily costs of operations such as paying staff, buying fuel or keeping the lights on.
The operating budget, which is funded largely from local taxes, pays the costs of our educational program and regular school maintenance; it’s difficult to find room in that budget for the kind of large-scale projects such as building a new school. The Board has worked with the district’s architect and financial advisors to develop a practical proposal to meet the educational requirements of students – without costly extras.
If voters approve a bond referendum, the district captures a specific type of state aid to offset the local share of the costs. A voter-approved bond referendum is the only way to secure this kind of state aid toward a building project. For this proposal, Fairview is planning for a 25 year bond and has received roughly 10.8 million dollars in state aid, so if voters approve this referendum they would see a tax impact which would equate to $33 a month.
Our district has diligently paid off debt while managing a stable operating budget, putting Fairview in position to borrow for future-focused improvements.
Where are Fairview students learning now?
The Fairview Public School District maintains four schools that house grades from Pre-k to 8th grade. The current infrastructure cannot support the number of students allotted for each class which is over capacity.
What are small-group instruction rooms and how do they benefit students?
Small-group instruction rooms are used to help students who need additional support in reading and math, to offer advanced opportunities to students who are ahead of their grade level in a specific subject, or to provide related services such as physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech. These spaces benefit students by giving them individualized attention and flexible and differentiated learning to encourage academic growth. Teachers can better gauge students’ understanding, provide timely feedback and tailor lessons to focus on their individual needs.
Our Plan
The Fairview Board of Education is looking to build a 91,334-square-foot, four-story middle school building. The school would include 24 classrooms for grades six to eight. The building would also feature small group instructional classrooms, science labs, music and art classrooms, a gymnasium, a cafeteria, a media center, student lounges and office space.
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