In January 2019, Mehlville School District embarked on an ambitious journey to reimagine its facilities for the next generation of learners. What began as a grassroots effort to assess facility needs has transformed into a $35 million comprehensive campus improvement initiative that touches every school in the district—all without increasing the tax burden on local residents.
The story begins with the formation of the Facility Steering Committee, a diverse group of stakeholders representing all 19 schools in the district. This committee didn’t just meet in boardrooms—they walked the halls of every campus, surveying parents, students, and staff to understand the real needs of each school community. Through their thorough assessment, clear priorities emerged: safety, accessibility, and basic infrastructure needs that could no longer be deferred.
In January 2021, the vision crystallized into Proposition S: "Safe Schools, Safe Kids,” a zero tax rate increase bond issue that the Board of Education unanimously placed on the ballot. The community’s response was decisive—voters approved the measure in April 2021, allowing the district to transfer 12 cents of the existing tax rate toward critical facility improvements.
How can a school district undertake a multi-million dollar modernization project without burdening taxpayers with higher rates, while ensuring the improvements genuinely reflect community needs?
Mehlville School District succeeded by combining grassroots community engagement with smart financial planning, using a Facility Steering Committee to assess needs across all 19 schools while funding the $35 million project through a strategic transfer of existing tax revenue rather than new taxes. This community-first approach, coupled with careful financial management, allowed them to modernize their facilities while keeping their promise of no tax rate increase.
Like any major initiative, the implementation has required flexibility and strategic thinking. To date, the district has invested $30 million in Prop S funds, with $5 million remaining to complete planned improvements through 2026
As construction continues through 2025, each completed project brings the district closer to its goal of providing facilities that match the excellence of its educational programs.
Voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition S in April 2021, enabling a 12-cent tax transfer that funded $35 million in facility improvements without raising rates.
As the Iowa City Community School District grappled with the challenges of rapid enrollment growth, aging facilities, equity concerns, and a desire for future-focused learning environments, they turned to the BLDD/Unicom•ARC team. The mission: conduct a comprehensive community engagement planning process to shape a long-term facilities master plan.
Just over 10 years ago, prior to working with BLDD, the district sought a referendum. Community engagement was minimal and the community did not approve the plan. Utilizing BLDD’s planning process with QLEO in 2024, the community engagement was successful and the referendum passed 70/30 overall.
In 2017, District 186 embarked on a two-year comprehensive master plan that led to a successful sales-tax referendum. The journey involved the coordination and cooperation of many entities with differing missions uniting for a common goal.