Bond 2026
Voters will decide upon a $50M facilities improvement bond on March 3, 2026.
View key finance information ( by Stifel Public Finance)View Projects and Costs by Building 10.13.25, View architectural renderings Newton Boards Schaefer
View the March 3, 2026 ballot language
View the Enrollment & Capacity Analysis by RSP
View the RSP Committee Recommendation
View the District-Wide Facilities Assessment (May 2025)
View area school district mill levies
The process:
USD 373 initiated a Facilities Master Planning project in partnership with RSP, a Kansas-based company specializing in comprehensive school community engagement. Through structured analysis of school and community data, RSP collaborated with a diverse group of community stakeholders to develop a strategic plan that provides the Board of Education (BOE) with informed guidance for future district direction regarding facilities.
RSP’s experts leveraged strategic data analysis alongside proven stakeholder engagement processes, resulting in actionable recommendations for the BOE to formally adopt in shaping the district's future.
This longitudinal project ran from November 2024 to June 2025, with the group of stakeholders convening monthly, beginning in November 2024 and concluding in June 2025 with a formal recommendation to the USD 373 Board of Education.
On May 14, 2025, the public was invited to attend a Facility Master Plan presentation and leave their input. Along with the findings of the committee and public input, a District-Wide Facilities Assessment was completed in May 2025.
At the July 14, 2025 meeting, the BOE heard from Stifel Investment services regarding some potential price points for a future bond and the impact on a house valued at $100k. The Board approved continuing the relationship with the Stifel Group for the upcoming prospective bond project.
At the July 28, 2025 Board of Education meeting, the board voted 6-0 to set a bond cap at $50M. Priority projects towards that $50M cap will be researched and presented in September.
USD 373 hosted two informational sessions regarding the proposed bond for facilities on October 21 at Chisholm Middle School and October 22 at Newton High School.
At the November 10, 2025 Board of Education meeting, the board voted 6-0 to approve a bond resolution for a March 3, 2026 special election for a facilities improvement bond.
Multiple public information sessions will be held throughout the winter to allow the public to see the proposed bond scope.