Questions & Answers    

Who is eligible to vote on this bond proposal?

All registered voters who live within the school district boundaries can vote on this bond proposal.

 

What is the bond amount that will be on the ballot?

The board has called an election for a bond not to exceed $24,850,000. Registered voters residing in the district will be asked to vote For or Against the authorization to issue up to, but not more than, this amount.

 

The question on the ballot will read:

Shall Sheridan County School District 0010 (Gordon-Rushville Public Schools), in the State of Nebraska, issue the bonds of said District in the principal amount of not to exceed Twenty-Four Million Eight Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($24,850,000) for the purpose of paying the costs of constructing an addition at the high school in Gordon to replace the original three story building including classrooms, administrative offices, cafeteria/commons space, and support spaces with improvements, and renovations to the existing high school including safety and security improvements and secure entrances; and renovations for a weight room, wrestling room, and locker rooms; and an addition at the middle school in Rushville to replace the existing Rushville Elementary building including classrooms, offices and administrative spaces and support spaces with some minimal renovation within the existing middle school building; and providing for necessary furniture and apparatus for such school buildings and additions; said bonds to be issued from time to time as may be determined by the Board of Education, to bear interest at a rate or rates to be determined by the Board of Education and to become due at such time or times as may be fixed by the Board of Education;

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What was the process to determine this was the right project solution?

Since fall 2025, Gordon-Rushville Public Schools has engaged independent experts to perform a thorough facility audit to discover the strengths and weaknesses of the buildings in Gordon and Rushville.

The district has also been working with staff and community members to better understand our facility needs and what our district can reasonably support.

 

Through six meetings and several surveys, the district collected 576 feedback submissions, including responses to a survey mailed to every household this spring. Thank you to everyone who took the time to learn about the needs, ask questions and provide honest feedback.

 

The results showed both support and concern:

• 64% of community members who participated in the facility planning meetings favored holding a bond election.

• 83% of staff survey respondents favored a bond.

• The districtwide household survey showed more caution, with 55% of respondents saying they were in favor of a bond election and 45% saying they were not in favor of a bond at this time.

 

The Board of Education and building committee took the feedback from the districtwide household survey seriously. The plan has changed as a result. An early option involving a new school was removed because of cost concerns. Ongoing work has been underway that still provides a facility design that meets our needs at both Gordon and Rushville, but reduces the cost of the bond from an estimated $60 to $80 million. The last proposed design meets our needs by providing a new elementary in Rushville, fixing the most urgent needs at Gordon and can be completed for a bond amount not to exceed $24,850,000.

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What are the key elements of the facility plan?

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The bond plan focuses on four main areas: improving safety and security, replacing aging buildings, creating a better elementary school in Rushville, and operating more efficiently.

Safety, security, and accessibility. The new spaces will include secure entrances, fire suppression systems, and layouts that meet ADA accessibility requirements — improvements the current buildings cannot provide. Rushville elementary students will no longer have to cross the street in all weather conditions to get to the gym and cafeteria each day.

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Replacing the oldest parts of our buildings. The original three-story high school in Gordon is nearly 100 years old, and the original Rushville Elementary building is about 85 years old. Both buildings have reached the point where keeping them running costs more and more every year — and they still can't fully meet today's needs. Rather than continuing to pour money into buildings that can't be fixed enough to last, the plan replaces these older sections with new construction that is built to serve students for decades to come.

 

A new elementary addition in Rushville. New classrooms, offices, and support spaces will be added onto the existing middle school in Rushville. Rushville Elementary is not closing — its students, teachers, and programs are simply moving into a brand-new space right next door.

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Greater efficiency. By bringing students and staff together under one roof in Rushville, the district can share staff, utilities, and resources more effectively. This reduces long-term operating costs and puts more of the district's money toward education instead of maintaining old buildings. The plan was also specifically designed so that new additions are built first — allowing students to stay in their current classrooms while construction happens, then move into the new spaces. This approach minimizes disruption to learning and avoids the cost of temporary classroom structures.

 

Why are Rushville Elementary students moving across the street — and is the school closing?

No — Rushville Elementary School is not closing. The school, its teachers, and its programs are staying right in Rushville. What is changing is the building students will learn in each day.

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Under the bond plan, elementary classes currently held in the Rushville Elementary building will move into the existing Gordon-Rushville Middle School, located just across the street. The middle school building will be updated and expanded to house both elementary and middle school students together on one campus.

 

This move will:

Save money. Operating and maintaining two separate buildings is expensive. Bringing students together under one roof means the district can share staff, utilities, and resources more efficiently — freeing up funds that can go back into education.

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Provide more safety for students. Right now, elementary students must cross the street to reach the middle school for lunch and certain classes. That's not ideal under any circumstances, but in a Nebraska winter — with sub-zero temperatures and icy conditions — it's a real safety concern. One shared building eliminates that risk entirely.

 

Be better for students. Shared facilities mean access to better spaces, fewer disruptions, and a more connected school community for Rushville's kids.

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What will happen to that building once the students move into the new Rushville Elementary space?

The board of education will seek a buyer for the current elementary facility in Rushville. We hope to move some of the existing playground equipment adjacent to the new school.

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Doesn't this project just add square footage?

Actually, the opposite is true. The bond plan replaces the oldest, most expensive sections of our buildings — it doesn't pile on top of them. When construction is complete, the district will operate more than 19,000 fewer square feet than it does today.

 

The high school shrinks from 85,000 to 71,285 square feet, with the original three-story section replaced by a right-sized modern addition. The new Rushville elementary space will be 12,383 square feet — replacing a building nearly 6,000 square feet larger. The result is smaller, more efficient schools built for the way students actually learn today.

 

What facility needs led Gordon-Rushville Public Schools to seek a bond?

Gordon-Rushville Public Schools conducted a thorough assessment of its buildings. The review tells a clear story: the district's facilities are aging, and, despite ongoing upkeep of the buildings, several have needs that go beyond routine maintenance.

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How old are the buildings?

The district's oldest structures are approaching or have already reached 100 years old:

• Gordon-Rushville High School — The original three-story building is approximately 100 years old; a later addition is around 60 years old.

• Gordon-Rushville Middle School — The main building is approximately 100 years old; an addition is around 30 years old.

• Rushville Elementary — The original building is approximately 85 years old; a newer addition is about 15 years old.

• Gordon Elementary — Approximately 60 years old.

 

What specific concerns were identified?

At the high school, the century-old three-story building raises the most significant concerns. In addition to its age and overall condition, the building has multiple ADA accessibility issues, deteriorating doors and windows, and a gym annex that is not structurally sound and actually blocks an emergency exit path. The track is not recommended for use, parking and the main entry do not meet ADA standards, and the weight room has poor ventilation and limited access. A basement cafeteria presents challenges for access and safe exiting.

 

At Rushville Elementary, the original building shares similar concerns — age, condition, and multiple accessibility issues. The building is not equipped with a fire sprinkler system, plumbing and some equipment are aging, and there is a structural concern with storage area framing above the lounge. The school also lacks an on-site cafeteria and gym.

 

What does this mean for the district?

The facility assessment concluded that the three-story high school building and the original Rushville Elementary building have the greatest needs — and that neither is a viable long-term solution without substantial investment. The review also found that consolidating and reducing overall square footage could improve efficiency and lower long-term operating costs for the district.

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How can we be sure the project can be built for the amount on the ballot?

The district has partnered with the architecture firm JEO and construction manager BD Construction to help us obtain accurate budget numbers for this project. BD used current and historical cost data for similar education addition and renovation projects in our region to help the school set an “all in” bond amount. 

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After the bond passes, all divisions of work will be put out for competitive bid. The final bond amount cannot exceed $24,850,000. 

 

Our bond amount includes projected inflation and contingency to ensure the project can be built for the amount on the ballot, or less. While construction volatility has stabilized, the cost to build schools will only continue to rise. The longer we wait to address the district’s needs, the higher the cost will be. 

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What will be my tax impact?​?

The projected tax impact is 16.2 cents per $100 of valuation. For a home valued at $100,000, the annual tax impact would be $162. This projection is based on current bond rates for a 25-year bond and the district’s current LB2 valuation. LB2 is a Nebraska law that reduces the taxable value of agricultural land to approximately 50% of market value, to reduce the overall impact of a school bond on Nebraska’s ag producers.

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You can calculate your individual tax impact using the calculator available here.

 

How does the bond affect our tax levy compared to other area schools?

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Gordon-Rushville already has the second-lowest school levy in the region. Even after adding the bond, the district would rank 7th lowest out of 10 area school districts — and still fall below the regional average of $0.8780 per $100 valuation.

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The bond would add $0.1620 per $100 of valuation to the current levy of $0.6809, bringing the total to $0.8429. For a home valued at $100,000, that's an annual increase of $162 — while still keeping Gordon-Rushville among the most affordable school districts in the Panhandle.

 

Total levy includes General, Bond, Building, and Qualified Capital Purpose funds. Source: Nebraska Department of Education, 2025-26.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is this the right time to run a bond with the current economy?

Waiting for bond rates to come down or for commodities to improve may result in a higher cost of construction due to annual inflation of around 5%. A bond issue becomes the responsibility of all district patrons over an extended period of time in which the economic environment may change. Almost all school bond issues are refinanced to lower rates at some point during their maturity length allowing them to be paid off earlier or resulting in a reduction in the annual tax request for bond payments. 

 

When will construction begin and how long will it take to complete?

If the bond passes on November 3, construction would begin in the Spring of 2027. This gives the architect time to complete detailed drawings and for the project to be bid competitively. The goal is to have significant completion by fall of 2028, although some parts of the construction may be completed and put into use earlier than that.

 

Why did we select a Construction Manager and how were they chosen?

The district selected BD Construction, Inc. of Kearney, Nebraska as its Construction Manager (CM) through a board-approved process that included a formal request for proposals, committee review, and interviews.

Unlike a traditional hard-bid approach — where the district accepts the lowest submitted price after plans are fully complete — the CM model brings the contractor to the table earlier in the process. This allows BD Construction to work alongside the architect during the design phase to identify potential cost-saving options and flag issues before they affect the budget.

 

If the bond passes, the architect will complete a full building design, and BD Construction will then competitively bid all work to subcontractors. The district's building committee will have the opportunity to review those bids to help ensure the district is receiving the best value for tax dollars.

 

How will construction impact students and staff?

The proposed construction plan was specifically designed with student learning in mind. One of the key reasons this approach was selected is that it allows additions to be built first — so students can remain in their existing classrooms during construction, then move into the new spaces before older areas are renovated. This phased approach significantly reduces disruption to the learning environment and eliminates the need for costly temporary classroom structures.

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The construction manager has worked on numerous school projects and prioritizes safety and minimal disruption to student learning. While there will always be some noise, the construction firm will work closely with the administration and teachers to schedule the most disruptive work during times when school is not in session — such as evenings, weekends, and breaks. BD's construction site superintendent will be in daily contact with administration and teachers daily regarding scheduling and any anticipated impact on learning, ensuring everyone has the information they need to plan ahead.

 

Does this affect my status with the Homestead Tax Exemption Act??

If you currently qualify for the Nebraska Homestead Tax Exemption and are exempt or partially exempt from other taxes, then those same exemptions will apply to the school bond. 

 

Homestead exemptions are available to qualified individuals who are 65 years of age or older, veterans, individuals with disabilities and others. For more information, please refer to the Nebraska Homestead Exemption Information Guide.