STARMONT COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOND REFERENDUM
ELECTION DAY: NOVEMBER 4, 2025
FIXING WHAT WE HAVE
The Starmont Community School District is not unique when it comes to experiencing facility and infrastructure challenges that go beyond what can be addressed through its annual operating budget.
On Tuesday, November 4, 2025, residents of Starmont CSD will vote on a $9.8 million general obligation bond referendum.
If it's approved, these funds would be used to address major HVAC, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing deficiencies in our schools.
The estimated property tax impact of the bond issue would be $2.30 per $1,000 of taxable value (not assessed value). This would result in an approximate increase of $179.76 per year (or $14.98 per month) on a home worth $175,000.
JOIN US!
We're hosting community meetings before election day to provide Starmont residents with opportunities to ask questions and learn more about the district's facility needs and the November bond referendum.
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Tuesday, Oct. 21: Lamont City Hall, 6:00 p.m.
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Tuesday, Oct. 28: Strawberry Point Civic Center, 6:00 p.m.
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Wednesday, Oct. 29: Arlington Community Center, 6:00 p.m.
Click the image to watch a recording of the bond referendum meeting on October 2, 2025.
OUR PROPOSAL
For more than 60 years, the Starmont Community School District has proudly served our communities and successfully educated generations of students. However, our students and staff face a variety of facility challenges every day due to the age and condition of our schools.
In 2021, the district partnered with Martin Gardner Architecture and KCL Engineering to conduct a comprehensive assessment and identify the most pressing needs in our schools. This list includes mechanical and control systems in poor condition, electrical equipment that is outdated, and plumbing and safety equipment in need of replacement. We have spent more than $62,400 on HVAC repairs and $6,800 on system maintenance alone since 2023.
Professional assessments of the HVAC systems at Starmont High School show that several pieces of equipment and components are more than 60 years old and beyond their anticipated useful lifespan. This includes steam piping, unit ventilator motors and dampers, air handling units, steam unit heaters, radiators, and some exhaust fan motors and belts.
At the middle and elementary school, hot water piping, unit ventilator motors and dampers, air handling units, condensing units, variable air volume boxes, and hot water unit heaters are all 35 years old. Pneumatic controls that serve the HVAC systems in both schools range in age from 35 to 62 years. System components are obsolete, and the availability of qualified technicians to service the system is limited.
A classroom was flooded last winter after a leak was discovered in one of the main hot water distribution lines. The carpet was ruined and had to be replaced.
Board members considered 10 improvement plans before selecting an option they believe is a cost-effective and efficient solution for Starmont’s needs. Under the proposal, a new water-sourced heat and direct exchange cooling Airedale system would be installed to serve academic spaces. The gymnasium would be serviced for heating and cooling via rooftop units.
With an approved bond vote on Tuesday, November 4, construction would begin next summer and continue throughout the 2026-27 school year. Expected completion would be in August 2027.
Project engineers estimate the total cost of the HVAC upgrades to be around $13.5 million. In addition to general obligation bonds, the district intends to use revenue it receives from the state's one-cent sales tax fund, known as Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE).
MEDIA
CONTACT US
Please use this form to submit questions about the bond referendum.