Frequently Asked Questions

Renovation has been thoroughly explored as an option, but it doesn’t solve the long-term challenges facing our district. The current elementary school has outdated infrastructure, limited room for growth, and would still require major investments just to address immediate needs.

Renovating Burlington Elementary would be a lengthy and expensive process that would likely disrupt learning during the school year. The building is landlocked, leaving no room for future expansion, and traffic congestion during drop-off and pick-up remains a persistent concern. Its close proximity to the new justice center also adds complications.

Below is a projected cost estimate for renovations in 2025 — not including future increases from rising construction costs (which typically grow 3–5% each year):

Decisions about BES have broader implications for the entire district:

• Moving 5th grade back to BES would create additional space at BMS.

• A new BES would provide more room for early childhood education, helping to reduce the BELC waiting list, which currently has about 40 children.

• BHS was built to accommodate up to 400 students but currently has about 265, meaning the district has room for growth at the high school level.

The original section was built in 1959 and was in poor condition before being fully renovated in 2020. Additional wings were added in 1983 and 1989.

Yes, the project will go through a formal bid process to ensure the district gets the best value.

Yes, a bond would be necessary to complete the major updates and additions needed for the current building.

Yes, the design allows for future growth if needed.

A new facility would provide a long-term solution that meets the needs of 21st-century learners while allowing for future growth. The proposed location would create a district campus near Burlington High School (BHS) and Burlington Middle School (BMS), improving efficiency and access to shared resources.

Yes. Even more importantly, the new gym will comfortably accommodate BES events like music programs, school assemblies, and the Veterans Day program—no more standing-room-only crowds.

GMP stands for Guaranteed Maximum Price, which means there’s a cap on how much the project will cost. From the start of the design process, the architect and construction manager work closely with the school district to ensure the building stays within budget. This is done through a method called real-time estimating, where they constantly check that the building’s design, features, and costs all line up with the budget.

Once the design is finalized, each part of the project is competitively bid to get the best prices. If the actual costs go over the GMP (and the school district didn’t request those changes), the construction manager—not the school—covers the difference. If the project comes in under budget, the savings go back to the district to use however they’d like.

McCownGordon Construction has a strong track record with this process. In the last year alone, they’ve completed 53 GMP projects, with costs coming in an average of 0.73% under budget—showing their commitment to delivering projects within budget.

Students learn differently than they did in the past, and modern education requires flexible spaces that support a variety of learning styles. Additional space is needed to accommodate small group instruction, hands-on learning, collaboration, and specialized support services to ensure all students have the best possible learning environment.

If the bond does not pass, the significant issues with the current elementary school building won’t go away. The need for updated, safe, and efficient learning spaces will still exist. Without bond approval, the district will likely have to explore a future bond issue to add on/renovate the current facility to address these needs—or make minimal improvements over time.

The election will be held May 6 and will be open to all registered voters in the USD 244 district. For more election details visit www.coffeycountyks.org/175/Elections.

The bond request is not to exceed $45 million.

A bond is a state-approved funding process for a set scope of projects. When voters approve a bond, the school district sells bonds in the authorized amount and uses the proceeds of the sale to pay for those projects in the bond. In many ways, the bonding process is like a homeowner obtaining a mortgage and making payments over a period of years. School bond elections require a simple majority to pass (50 percent plus one).

Bond funds can only be used for constructing, equipping, maintaining and furnishing district facilities. This makes bond funds different from the district's operating funds that are used to pay salaries, textbooks and other day-to-day expenses. Bond funds can only be used for brick-and-mortar projects and cannot be legally used for anything else. This is an important distinction to remember. Bond funds and operational/salary funds are separate, and according to state law, these funds cannot be used interchangeably.

The anticipated completion date is Fall 2027.

BES was built in sections over several decades, with the first-grade wing dating back to 1959. While some renovations have been made, the building still faces space constraints, outdated infrastructure, traffic concerns, and limitations in accommodating modern teaching methods, technology, and inclusive learning models.

Several options are being considered, including:

• Partnering with Flint Hills Tech College, Allen County Community College, or Emporia State University to offer satellite classes.

• Selling the building.

Yes. Years ago, space constraints led to the current PreK-4 BES, grades 5-8 BMS, and grades 9-12 BHS structure. Moving 5th grade back to BES will free up much-needed space at BMS, but this decision is about more than just space. At this stage, students are still developing intellectually and emotionally, and an elementary school environment is better suited to their needs. Keeping 5th graders at BES will provide them with a more age-appropriate setting that supports their learning, maturity, and overall development.

Our elementary school has not seen significant updates since 1983 and 1989, making it difficult to support modern education. While the first-grade wing was renovated in 2020, the rest of the building struggles to accommodate today’s teaching methods, technology, and inclusion models. Additionally, construction costs continue to rise, meaning delays will only increase the financial burden on taxpayers. Taking action now allows us to address both current needs and future growth while ensuring our students have the high-quality learning spaces they deserve.

Aside from the moral argument that everyone benefits from an educated population, good schools make communities more vibrant, dynamic and attractive. The quality of a community’s schools is one of the main criteria for companies and individuals seeking to relocate. Even more importantly, good schools are essential to young families considering Coffey County as a home. If we hope to have a thriving community in the future, it’s time to start now.

A mill is $1 of tax on each $1,000 of assessed valuation on property in the District. The bonds will require a mill rate estimated at 7.2 mills—added taxes on a $100,000 home of $6.90 per month. For more information on how the bond would affect residential, commercial, and agricultural property, see the full Taxpayer Cost Analysis at USD244Facilities.com.

State-assessed utilities, including Wolf Creek, account for approximately 93% of the district’s total tax base. In terms of the bond election, this means that around 93% of the bond’s debt service will be covered by state-assessed utilities.

Currently, USD 244 has the lowest mill rate among Kansas school districts with similar assessed property valuations. If the proposed school bond project is approved, the district would still have the second lowest mill rate among comparable districts.

Looking more broadly, 181 school districts in Kansas currently have a bond outstanding. Among those, the lowest total mill levy is 37.170 mills. If the USD 244 bond is approved, the district’s new mill levy would be 36.864 mills—making it the lowest in the entire state among districts with a bond.

For context, the average total mill levy for Kansas school districts with a bond outstanding is approximately 56 mills.

Unlike most districts, USD 244 has no existing bonded indebtedness.

Yes, please contact them anytime by either reaching out directly or submitting questions on the contact page at USD244facilities.com.