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What is Proposition C.A.R.E.? Proposition C.A.R.E. is a no tax rate increase bond issue on the April 2nd ballot that will raise $4,000,000 for the New Haven School District. The bond language restricts the use of this money to provide funds to upgrade and install heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and automation control systems; to address structural repairs at the high school; to the extent funds are available, purchase school buses, acquire or replace technology equipment, and complete other renovations, repairs and improvements to the existing facilities of the District. The adjusted debt service levy of the School District is estimated to remain unchanged at $0.7500 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation of real and personal property.  What is the reason for Proposition C.A.R.E.? The aging HVAC systems throughout the elementary school and in the high school gymnasium were the stimulus for the bond issue. Many of the elementary school classrooms are uncomfortable throughout the year and the high school boiler responsible for heating the gym and locker rooms has reached the end of its life. Additionally, portions of the high school built on fill have settled and need structural reinforcement. Funding these projects through debt service prevents these expenditures from depleting operating funds that support the purchase of supplies and pay salaries and benefits.  How will the funds be spent? The bond issue will fund the replacement of aging HVAC units throughout the Elementary School. The newest units are 16 years old but most of them are much older. The project will also modify ductwork to allow individual classroom control of temperatures through properly engineered dampers. Finally, air conditioning will be added to the elementary gymnasium.  At the high/middle school, new HVAC will be installed in the gymnasium and locker rooms to replace the existing boiler. HVAC will also be installed in bathrooms and hallways to replace systems that have failed in recent years. New centralized building control systems for the HVAC systems at both buildings will be installed to replace the individual controls currently connected the HVAC units. Combining the control systems, engineered ductwork at the elementary school, and higher efficiency units throughout the district will ensure energy savings.  Eastern classrooms at the high/middle school were built on fill that has caused settling. Structural repairs will be performed to prevent further settling to maintain safe environments for students and staff. Ballot language for the bond issue allows the remaining funds to be used to purchase buses or complete repairs and renovations throughout the district.
What will happen if the issue does not pass? The high/middle school boiler will be replaced using the operating budget. The Board will decide whether the boiler will be replaced with a new boiler or with a heating and air conditioning unit. The remaining projects will be canceled or deferred until repairs are no longer possible, at which time critical needs will be addressed using the operating budget. What is the economic impact on district households? Household tax bills will be the same next November whether or not the bond issue passes. The current $0.7500 debt service fund levy is adequate to repay the existing bonds plus the $4,000,000 of new bonds by extending the levy for approximately ten years, but not increasing the rate above the current level. In the past, the district has been able to refinance bonds to shorten their final maturities and save the taxpayers' interest expense. If the municipal bond market becomes more favorable in the future, the District will likely pay off this debt early as well. More information is available by calling Superintendent Dr. Josh Hoener at (573) 237-3231. NHHS Student Council recently held a blood drive. Workers from Mercy captured 22 pints of blood from the donors. Thank you to our donors and Student Council volunteers!
 The New Haven School District is excited to invite the community to two upcoming events. A town hall meeting in the high school gymnasium on Tuesday, March 19th at 6:00 pm to discuss the upcoming bond issue is the first event. Proposition C.A.R.E. is a no tax rate increase bond issue on the April 2nd ballot. The goal of the meeting is to answer frequently asked questions such as how the school bonding process works, how the funds will be spent if Proposition C.A.R.E. passes, what are the plans for repairs if the bond issue does not pass, and why isn’t building a new school a better option than repairing older buildings. Community members will also have the opportunity to tour portions of the high school building requiring structural repairs. The second event is a community review of the New Haven School District’s Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP). This meeting will be held in the high school gymnasium on Monday, March 25th at 6:30 pm. The purpose of the CSIP is to prioritize objectives and goals that will be developed and implemented over the next five years. It is a plan that centers on the improvement of the district from all perspectives with the major thrust on enhancing student achievement and performance levels. The current plan was adopted in 2022 and will remain in effect until 2027. The purpose of this meeting will be to evaluate progress made toward the CSIP goals since its adoption. Community members will also be invited to provide feedback to the CSIP committee about the goals within the plan. We hope community members take advantage of these opportunities to learn about the New Haven School District and interact with its staff members. 
 Katie Holtmeyer is the February Student of the Month for New Haven High School. She is the daughter of Courtney and Matt Holtmeyer. Katie is involved in Student Council, NHS, FBLA, FCCLA, basketball, volleyball, and track and field. Katie has won the following awards: 2023 FBLA Districts 1st place Intro to Business Presentation, 2023 FBLA State 3rd place Intro to Business Presentation, 2024 FBLA Districts 1st place Public Service Announcement, Academic All-Conference Softball 2021, 5th place State Track Discus 2022, High Honor Roll, Honor Roll, 2023 Academic All-State Volleyball, 2023 Academic All-Conference Track and Field, and 2023 Academic All-Conference Volleyball. Outside of school, Katie is on a select softball team. She loves to hang out with friends any moment she can, and she loves to do sports including pickleball and tennis. Something interesting about Katie is that she is afraid of butterflies. Congratulations, Katie!
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