Lennox to vote Tuesday on $17.3M school addition

LENNOX — Voters in the Lennox School District will head to polls Tuesday, May 9, to decide the fate of a $17.3 million addition to their middle and high schools.

The bond comes two decades after the existing school was constructed in 2003, with the capacity to hold about 500 students, and 16 years after an additional wing was built to raise the capacity to 700 students.

With 546 students enrolled this school year, district officials say that adequate classroom space remains, but that the bond focuses on reducing the stress of shared-use spaces throughout the building.

Proposed improvements for the building include: a 900-seat performing arts center, a 500-seat auxiliary gym, a larger weight room, two locker rooms, an activities lobby and a kitchen and cafeteria remodel that would allow for a second serving line.

The district’s estimate of a $17.26 million price tag is composed of the $8.5 million expected cost for athletic improvements, $8.6 million for the performing arts center and $160,000 for kitchen remodeling.

The bond up for vote will add nothing to the $12.3 million bond levy in place since 2003, as that is expected to be paid off by July, and the school board has been recommended to adopt a 25-year repayment plan on the new bond.

If the bond passes the public vote, construction would be expected to begin in April 2024, with a completion date of May 2025. If it were to fail, the district plans to move forward with the kitchen remodel using existing funds, with other projects to be re-examined in the future.

Precincts are as follows for the Tuesday election:

Precinct 1, Worthing Fire Station

This precinct includes all of Lennox School District No. 41-4 lying within: LaValley, Lincoln and Lynn Townships, including the Town of Worthing and Sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 25, 26, 35 and 36 in Perry Township and Sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, 14, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 33, 34, 35 and 36 of Grant township and all sections East of Hwy 17 in Delaware Township all in Lincoln County, SD.

Precinct 2, Chancellor City Hall

This precinct includes all of Lennox School District No. 41-4 lying within: Turner County including the city of Chancellor and all sections West of Hwy 17 in Delaware township and all sections West of Hwy 17 in Delapre Township and Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18 in Perry Township and Sections 19, 20, 29, 30, 31, 32 in Grant Township all in Lincoln County, SD.

Precinct 3, LWC Intermediate School

This precinct includes all of Lennox School District No. 41-4 lying within: Minnehaha County, all sections East of Hwy 17 in Delapre Township and Sections 3, 4, 9, 10, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34 of Perry Township including the City of Lennox and Sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18 of Grant Township all in Lincoln County, SD.