Seward County Independent

    On May 15 residents of Centennial School District will go to the polls to decide whether to approve a $4.7 million bond issue that would add an auditorium and improve the school's safety. And a grass-roots effort organized by community members is working hard to make those "yes" votes.
     The project would add a 550-seat auditorium to the school, increase the size of the commons area, add a permanent concession stand near the gym, create an administrative office at the school's entrance and install sprinkler systems in the school.
     Christie Tomes' son, Schuyler, will graduate from Centennial High School May 13, just two days before the special election.
     Even though she will no longer have any children enrolled at Centennial and the stresses of graduation planning have begun, Tomes has dove into the middle of a community effort to spread the word about the upcoming election and the stakes for the school.
     "I keep asking myself if I need to get my head examined because I've got graduation to plan for," Tomes said. "But it's important that (Centennial students) have what it takes after their graduation. I don't want to live in a community that produces kids that go out the front door after graduation not prepared for college.
     "If my tax dollars are going to go for something, I want them to go for something that'll benefit the kids."
     Tomes is working with a group of current and former Centennial parents, grandparents, students and other community members to educate the public regarding the benefits the addition would bring to the school and students and raise awareness of the upcoming election.
     The group designed and mailed informational pamphlets, has been working to register area voters and has scheduled community informational meetings throughout the Centennial School District.
     For Lois Richters of Utica, the fine arts are as important as athletics and academics in the education of a student. Though her children are no longer in school, she has a grandchild for whom she wants to provide the best educational opportunities possible.
     "It's important to complete the entire education of the child, " she said. "You learn a lot through athletics and a lot from academics, but I think in the fine arts you learn the confidence and the speaking ability to express yourself through your whole life."
     Richters is working with the committee to register area voters and get absentee voting forms to registered voters. In addition to going over voter lists, the committee also brought registration information to the high school for interested seniors.
     "I'm not sure just how many (students) registered, but there was an interest in it and we wanted to make that available to them," Richters said.
     The special election is the result of data comparisons of other schools in the Southern Nebraska Conference and four community forums which led to a recommendation to the school board before the board approved the special election.
     Currently the school has no space dedicated to fine arts performances. Band and choir concerts are generally held in the high school gym, while musicals are held in the elementary school gym - the only space in the school with a stage. Unfortunately, the gyms are not ideal spaces for fine arts performances.
     "First of all, the stage is too small," Centennial senior Kelsey Barth said of the elementary school gym.
     Barth performs in the CHS band and choir and has acted in the school's drama productions.
     "We don't have a lot of the accommodations we need for putting on plays," she said. "It's also a hassle to set up risers and get chairs in the big gym for concerts."
     From the perspective of an audience member, Richters knows the current space is far from ideal. Gymnasium acoustics make it difficult for elderly visitors to hear performances and the seating arrangements mean some in the audience may not be able to see everything.
     "If you've ever been to one of the performances you'd know that it's hard to see and the seats are uncomfortable," she said.
     "We have great facilities for athletics and academics," Centennial Band Director Liz Jones said. "The next step would be adding a facility for the fine arts activities and community activities, as well."
     In addition to providing opportunities for Centennial students, bond supporters stressed that an auditorium would be an asset to groups and clubs throughout the Centennial community.
     "It's important for the community," Richters said. "For anyone in the district to be able to use it is going to be a really positive thing."
     If paid back over a 20-year span, the bond would require a levy of 7.3 cents per $100 of valuation.
     The last time Centennial issued a bond was in 1992 to build additional elementary school classrooms. That bond was paid off last November.
     Bond supporters are planning public informational meetings across the Centennial district. Meetings will be held at: Tuesday, May 8, 9:30 a.m. at Hunter's Lounge, Waco, and at 7 p.m. at Utica Auditorium; Wednesday, May 9, 7:30 p.m. at Waco Community Center; and Thursday, May 10, 7 p.m. at Beaver Crossing Grange. The group hopes to plan a presentation in Gresham but had not established a date and time as of press time.
    Election details
     The election will take place from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, May 15. Seward and Butler county precincts may cast ballots at the Utica Senior Center, 520 D Street, and York and Polk county precincts can vote at the Waco Community Center, Strickler Street.
     The deadline to register in person to vote at the county courthouse of a person's residency is Friday, May 9.
     Registered voters may vote in person before the May 15 election at the county clerk's office of their respective county. Ballots will be available in the Seward, Butler, York and Polk county courthouses until the day of the election.
     Absentee ballots may also be requested from a county clerk's office until May 15.