The South Sanpete School District is preparing to spend $10 million to build a new school and remodel one that is seriously overcrowded, all within a five-year time frame.
The district's building plans include a new middle school in the Gunnison Valley at a $6 million cost and extensive modifications at Manti High School at an estimated $4 million price.Lewis Mullins, South Sanpete District superintendent, said the Manti High School project has the top priority because of the urgent need. But the district also wants the middle school in place by the time the second phase of the Gunnison Regional Prison becomes operational in four or five years.
Manti High School's student population is now about 20 percent above its rated capacity. Students are attending classes in six mobile classrooms, are eating their lunches in hallways and many are unable to attend programs in the auditorium because of the space shortfall.
The district plan proposes to add a 10-to-12-classroom addition, enlarge the commons area and remodel the auditorium to nearly double the seating. The new middle school will ease the pressure on other schools in Gunnison Valley.
Where will the $10 million come from? The district plans to hold a special election in August or September that will ask the voters to approve $5,323,447 in additional bonding. That would not require a tax increase, according to Paul Gottfredson, district business administrator, but would extend the repayment period.
But it would also cause the district to reach its statutory debt limit, something no Utah district has done in the past, Gottfredson said.
And where will the rest of the $10 million come from? "We'll be trying for a Community Impact Board grant," Gottfredson said.
And the district will approach the Legislature with hat in hand, hoping for a special appropriation in view of the district's need and effort.