Board refinances bonds to save district over $1 million

Property tax mill levy maintained at 5.907

District switches student funds bank after deposit issues

$77,780 asbestos abatement approved for two schools

Asbestos removal to alter summer maintenance schedule

Jennie Barker School flooring contract awarded

Board approves Plymell School flooring bid

Board refinances bonds to save district over $1 million

GARDEN CITY, Kan. — The Unified School District 457 Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution to refinance more than $13 million in general obligation refunding bonds, a move expected to save the district more than $1 million. District Chief Financial Officer Jessica Nothern reported that the district locked in a blended interest rate of 3.16 percent. The bulk of the savings will be realized in fiscal year 2034, but the district will also see $107,000 in savings next year and approximately $56,000 annually thereafter.

Property tax mill levy maintained at 5.907

GARDEN CITY, Kan. — Despite the restructuring of Unified School District 457's debt, the property tax mill levy will remain unchanged at 5.907 mills. District Chief Financial Officer Jessica Nothern told the Board of Education that the district's mill levy has steadily decreased from more than 7.5 mills in fiscal year 2023, dropping to 6.4 in 2024 and temporarily rising to 6.5 in 2025 before falling to the current rate. Because the district holds sufficient reserves in its bond and interest fund, no tax increase will be required to facilitate the refinancing.

District switches student funds bank after deposit issues

GARDEN CITY, Kan. — The Unified School District 457 Board of Education voted unanimously to move its student funds accounts from Equity Bank to Dream First Bank beginning in the next fiscal year. The decision followed a formal request for proposals that evaluated eight quotes based on service fees, interest on idle funds and purchasing card transaction capabilities. District Chief Financial Officer Jessica Nothern said the district initiated the search after losing its direct representative at Equity Bank and encountering administrative challenges regarding deposit management.

$77,780 asbestos abatement approved for two schools

GARDEN CITY, Kan. — The Unified School District 457 Board of Education approved a $77,780 contract with RCI Inc. for asbestos abatement at Jennie Barker and Plymell schools. The district sought quotes from five companies and received three responses, with RCI submitting the lowest responsible bid. While district officials initially hoped the project would stay under a $20,000-per-school threshold, the final decision recognized that full removal of the 19,000 square feet of asbestos — rather than laying new carpet over the old flooring — was the safest and most responsible option for students.

Asbestos removal to alter summer maintenance schedule

GARDEN CITY, Kan. — The newly approved asbestos abatement at Jennie Barker and Plymell schools will delay the start of planned summer flooring upgrades for Unified School District 457. Crews will begin the asbestos removal immediately after the school year ends, pushing the start of the subsequent flooring installations to mid-June. District officials said all projects remain on track to be completed before students return for the fall semester.

Jennie Barker School flooring contract awarded

GARDEN CITY, Kan. — Following approval of the asbestos abatement, the Unified School District 457 Board of Education unanimously awarded a $64,982.24 contract to Wichita-based Star Commercial Flooring to install new flooring at Jennie Barker School. The district accepted the company as the lowest responsible bidder for the project, which had been moved off the consent agenda to allow discussion alongside the asbestos removal plan.

Board approves Plymell School flooring bid

GARDEN CITY, Kan. — Wichita-based Star Commercial Flooring was also awarded a $65,113.23 contract by the Unified School District 457 Board of Education to replace the flooring at Plymell School. The unanimous vote came after brief clarification on the exact bid amount. Like the Jennie Barker School project, installation will begin after completion of asbestos remediation at the site in mid-June.

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