AURORA — Aurora Public Schools has a saying: “Picking up the PACE.”
During Superintendent John Barry’s first year, the “P” in PACE stood for “people” — new folks he met and others whom he brought in to effect change.
Last year, the “A” was for “achievement.” And the district saw gains on statewide tests in reading and writing.
This coming year, the “C” is for “community.” So he is seeking the community’s help in continuing the district’s successes by asking voters to approve two measures in November: a $215 million bond package and a $14.7 million mill-levy override.
“We’re on a roll,” Barry said. “We have momentum being built. But we need the help of the community. We can’t do this alone.”
About half of the bond package would go toward a new high school and a pre-K through eighth-grade school. The other half would go toward fixing and maintaining current facilities. Officials say fixes are needed because the district’s buildings are, on average, at least 40 years old.
But Barry said every school would see improvements from the bond issue, if passed.
The bond would mature at $475 million but would keep the tax rate stable, meaning no new taxes would be needed, partly because of retiring debt.
The last time Aurora voters approved a bond increase was in 2002. And because the district was able to invest money while some projects were still coming online, it earned an extra $28 million in interest. That money was used to build two new kindergarten through eighth-grade schools, which opened this school year.
The mill-levy override is basically an increase in the property tax. It would cost homeowners $5.15 a month for every $100,000 of property value. The average home in the district is valued at about $192,000.
Money from the mill levy would go to funding full-day kindergarten for every eligible student, 2 percent pay raises for all Aurora Public Schools employees and upgrades in technology.
Brenna Isaacs, president of the teachers union, said tying raises to the mill levy was not the union’s ideal choice because pay increases had been previously funded through the general fund. But she notes that the district hasn’t asked for a property- tax hike since 1990 and that the successes of the district should give residents confidence in the direction the district is headed.
“We hope our citizens in Aurora recognize we haven’t gone to them for a mill-levy increase in almost 20 years,” Isaacs said. “We hope they will support that.”
