A general obligation bond is a voter-approved loan used by school districts to fund major capital projects, such as building new schools or renovating old ones. The bonds are repaid using property taxes.

The district has a bonding capacity for 2026 of $51,007,768. Seeking a $43 million proposal leaves funding available for future bond projects as potentially needed. Financial analysts also project that MVR-III will have an additional $10-15 million in bonding capacity in the next five years based on the current pay-off schedule of earlier bonds.

Asking voters to consider a bond issue (Proposition S) is the result of a multi-year effort by the Board of Education and administration to identify solutions to MVR-III’s critical facility needs.

This process included the creation of a long-range facility master plan, comprehensive building assessments by architects and engineers, and the consideration of multiple project options.

If Proposition S is approved, approximately $38 million will be used to construct a new energy-efficient middle school with a storm shelter for our students in 7th and 8th grade near Pacific High School, allowing students in 5th and 6th grade to transition to Riverbend Middle School.

Bond funds would also be spent on projects to upgrade safety and security systems, address maintenance projects at all of our schools, improve academic spaces like the Culinary Lab at Pacific High School, and renovate a portion of our athletic facilities.

The total $43 million bond proposal has the potential to provide more students with access to modern and quality learning environments, bolster safety, enhance programming, create operational savings and staff efficiencies, and position the district for long-term success.

MVR III’s property tax rate WILL NOT change if the bond issue is approved in April. Any increases in the amount of taxes paid would likely be the result of higher property valuations, not from an approved bond issue.

Yes, but our needs will remain, and the solution will be much costlier down the road. By approving a bond issue now, the district is getting the biggest bang for its buck, as project costs will only increase in the years to come.

Yes. MVR-III’s recent bond issue history includes approved measures in 2017 ($11.75 million) and 2021 ($17.9 million), as well as an unsuccessful $36 million proposal in 2025.

The new school will provide students with a learning environment that is compatible with 21st century education. It will offer a range of opportunities thanks to new resources like science labs. All of this will help prepare students to become tomorrow’s workforce in our community.

Pacific Intermediate is outdated, and investing significant funds into the facility is not a cost-efficient use of taxpayer funds. For example, our maintenance team has to purchase parts from online marketplaces like eBay to keep the boiler operating.

Demand has grown for access to these programs. Course requests for 2025-26 far exceeded availability, with 144 seats in Culinary I available compared to 245 requests. Culinary II offers 72 seats, while requests totaled 124 this school year.

The district intends to pay for new equipment in the renovated Culinary Arts Lab by using grant money. By completing these improvements, we can provide more students with opportunities to explore potential career fields.

Enrollment at MVR-III has remained steady in recent years.

In 2013-14, our student population was 3,227 students. Enrollment declined to 2,889 students in 2020-21, but then rose 1.8% through 2023-24, to 2,942.

Current projections see enrollment through 2032-33 falling to 2,734 students.

By acting now, we can address our needs and allow our schools to better serve future generations of MVR-III students. Delaying the proposed bond projects will lead to higher costs later due to inflation and rising material and labor costs, among other factors.

The following is the wording of the proposal that will appear on the ballot:

Shall the Board of Education of the Meramec Valley R-III School District of Franklin, St. Louis and Jefferson Counties, Pacific, Missouri, issue general obligation bonds in the amount of $43,000,000 for the purpose of renovating, expanding, improving, acquiring, constructing, furnishing and equipping school buildings, sites and facilities, including the construction of a new middle school with storm shelter and athletic facility improvements, the acquisition and installation of technology infrastructure and equipment upgrades, safety and security improvements, and energy efficiency improvements? If this proposition is approved, the debt service levy of the school district is estimated to remain unchanged from the current debt service levy of $0.95 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation of real and personal property.

To register to vote, residents must submit a completed voter registration application to their local election authority. This can be done in person or by mail.

An eligible voter may register in person at one of the following locations:

• The office of their local election authority

• At a driver's licensing office while applying for or renewing a driver's license

• At a designated state agency while the applicant is obtaining services from the agency. Examples of state agencies providing registration applications to their clients include the Division of Family Services, Military Recruitment, or WIC.

• A library

When registering in person, applicants are required to present a form of personal identification. A voter can also register to vote by mail by completing a postcard voter registration application. You can request a voter registration application from the local election authority or from the Missouri Secretary of State’s website, at www.sos.mo.gov/elections/goVoteMissouri/register.

Within seven days of receiving your registration, the election authority should mail verification that your registration has been received and processed. If you do not receive this verification, you should contact your local election authority to ensure you are indeed registered to vote. You will receive your identification card after voting for the first time.

March 11 is the last day to register to vote in the April election.

Information about obtaining an absentee ballot can be found through the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office.

The election will be held on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Polls will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and a valid ID is required to vote. Additional voting information can be found on the Missouri Secretary of State’s website, at www.sos.mo.gov.

Registered voters can find their polling location by visiting https://voteroutreach.sos.mo.gov/portal.

Find more local voter information at the following links:

• Franklin County

• Jefferson County

• St. Louis County

You can only vote at your assigned polling place. If there is a problem at your assigned polling place, you may be eligible to vote at the central polling place. Verifying your assigned polling place with your local election authority before election day will help eliminate potential complications.