Minden, August 20, 2025
News Summary
The Minden school board reviewed a proposal to build a new elementary wing attached to the middle school, prompted by an aging elementary facility and limited expansion options. BD Construction provided an early high-end cost estimate of $26.6 million, and a financial advisor outlined five financing approaches, including full bond funding, bond wraps, lease purchases, and interlocal agreements. The board approved routine business, policy updates, and steps to refine designs with teacher input. A public outreach plan was presented to keep communications neutral while volunteers could form an advocacy committee if the district pursues a bond vote.
Minden Public Schools Board Hears Plans for New Elementary Building; Early Cost Estimate $26.6M, Five Financing Paths Outlined
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Updated: August 20, 2025 @ 6:43 am.
Top line
The Minden Public Schools Board of Education spent much of its August 11 meeting reviewing plans and financing options for a proposed new elementary school. An early, high-end construction estimate from the district’s contractor put the potential cost at $26.6 million. A separate financial advisory presentation laid out five distinct ways the district might pay for the work, including bonds, lease purchases and other hybrid approaches. The meeting also included routine consent items and several policy actions.
What drew the most attention
The district’s architect opened the project presentations by saying the current elementary building is aging and no longer functions well for modern elementary education. The building has limited classroom space and little opportunity for expansion without removing existing playground or parking areas. To solve those issues, the district is exploring a new building that would attach to C.L. Jones Middle School.
Plans have been refined since a 2023 concept. The revised layout is overall smaller, with a reduced courtyard, modified art, music and gym spaces, and design choices intended to ease congestion at the elementary entrance and the drop-off zone on 5th Street. The new design also preserves the option to add classrooms later if enrollment or instructional needs require it. Further design details will be adjusted as district staff and teachers weigh in on classroom amenities.
Cost and timing
BD Construction provided an early high-end estimate of $26.6 million based on current design details. That figure was described as preliminary and subject to change; a more detailed plan will be needed to produce a refined cost estimate. The contractor suggested a schedule of steps if the board wants to pursue a November bond election, including a suggested committee kickoff on August 18 and a formal announcement of intent the following month. The presentation emphasized a public information campaign to explain the proposal to residents prior to any vote.
How the public would be informed
Presenters proposed a multifaceted outreach effort that would include a project website, mailed brochures, public townhall meetings, news media outreach, and use of existing school communications channels. All official district communications about the project would remain neutral. Volunteers could organize and communicate on behalf of the campaign, and BD Construction said it would coordinate committees and subcommittees to keep outreach organized. Board members expressed a preference for a mostly neutral volunteer committee focused on sharing facts rather than aggressive persuasion, and asked for balance so residents are informed without feeling inundated.
Financing options presented
A representative from the district’s financial advisor presented five financing approaches:
- Option 1 — A traditional bond for the full project. This approach would spread repayment over many years, producing the lowest true interest cost, and could include future refinancing. The presentation indicated a strategy that could keep the overall tax levy neutral by lowering the levy for the special building fund until current bonds are retired, resulting in a net zero levy increase.
- Option 2 — A full-project bond using a wrap structure. Under this plan only interest would be paid on the new bonds until older bonds are retired. This adds more total interest than option 1, but would keep the bond levy neutral and help maintain a healthier special building fund balance in the short term.
- Option 3 — A combination of a lease purchase and a bond. A seven-year lease purchase at current valuation could provide roughly $12 million, allowing the district to bond about half the project. This option could yield tax credits tied to special building fund use and was shown with an estimated levy impact of 4.92¢ in the presentation.
- Option 4 — Similar to option 3 but using a wrap solution to defer some principal and avoid a sharp spike in the aggregate levy. It is less efficient in total interest cost than a straight combination.
- Option 5 — A longer-term lease purchase entered into through an interlocal agreement, relying on special building funds and passing tax credits to taxpayers rather than issuing bonds. This option was presented as the most efficient and affordable in terms of true interest cost if structured properly.
Other board actions
The board approved the consent agenda quickly, which included minutes from July 14 and July 29, financial reports, and expenditures and claims for payment. After the presentations the board approved amendments to a series of policies (numbers 1200, 3131, 3132, 3410, 4003, 4009, 5003, 5004, 5101, 5103, 5201, 5301, 5401, 5414, and 6400), adopted three policies (5507, 6113, and 6931), and approved a resolution to increase the district’s base growth percentage up to an additional 6% or other maximum allowed by law.
The board also authorized payment of the 2024–25 year-end bills, approved 2025–26 staff trainings, and approved the 2024–25 audit agreement with the district’s auditor. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 8 at 7:00 p.m. in the high school media center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the estimated cost of the proposed elementary building?
A: The contractor provided an early high-end estimate of $26.6 million. This is a preliminary number and will be refined as design details are finalized.
Q: What financing choices are being considered?
A: Five financing options were presented: a full bond for the project, a bond with a wrap structure, a combined lease purchase and bond, a wrapped version of the combined approach, and a longer-term lease purchase using an interlocal agreement. Each has different trade-offs in interest cost, levy impact and timing.
Q: Could a bond be on the November ballot?
A: Presenters suggested an August 18 committee kickoff and a formal announcement the following month to support a potential November bond vote, but any decision to proceed will require additional board action.
Q: How will the public learn about the plan?
A: The outreach plan includes a dedicated website, mailed brochures, townhall meetings, news media outreach and use of existing school communication channels. Official district communications will remain neutral while volunteers may engage in advocacy separately.
Q: What change would the new building make on traffic and space?
A: The revised design is intended to ease congestion at the elementary entrance and the 5th Street drop-off, provide more classroom flexibility and preserve the ability to add future classrooms without removing key outdoor space.
Key features at a glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Preliminary cost | $26.6 million (early high-end estimate) |
| Design approach | Attachment to middle school; smaller footprint than 2023 plan; reduced courtyard; modified art, music and gym spaces; future expansion possible |
| Primary issues addressed | Aging facility, limited classrooms, lack of expansion space, drop-off congestion |
| Financing options | Five options: full bond, wrapped bond, lease + bond, wrapped lease + bond, long-term lease (interlocal) |
| Public outreach | Website, brochures, townhalls, media outreach, neutral official communications, volunteer committees |
| Next board meeting | Monday, September 8 at 7:00 p.m. in the high school media center |
Report compiled from district presentations and board meeting actions on August 11. The information above reflects proposals and recommendations presented to the board; final decisions and figures are subject to further board votes and refinements in design and financing.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- The Minden Courier: Minden Board Reviews Plan for New Elementary Building
- Wikipedia: School Bond
- KTBS: Former Claiborne Educator Accused of Inappropriate Behavior
- Google Search: Claiborne educator accused student
- Kearney Hub: Local Education News
- Google Scholar: school construction financing
- Nevada Appeal: Minden Elementary Kicks Off Program
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Elementary education
- KSLA: Former Homer Educator Arrested; Alleged Molestation
- Google News: educator arrested molestation child
Author: Construction TX News
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