CHAMOIS — Voters in the Osage County R-I School District will decide April 7 whether to approve a $1.75 million bond issue focused primarily on upgrading the district’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, along with other facility improvements if funds allow.

A public meeting on the proposal was held March 24 in the school library.

District officials identify HVAC upgrades as the primary priority, citing aging systems that have required ongoing repairs. More than $125,000 has been spent in recent years maintaining existing HVAC equipment, some of which is original to the buildings.

School officials say heating failures in both the elementary and high school buildings have at times disrupted instruction, requiring temporary measures such as space heaters or relocating classes.

If funds remain after HVAC work is completed, the district says additional repairs or improvements to existing facilities may be addressed. However, available information does not include a detailed cost breakdown or a specific list of those potential projects.

If approved, the bond would result in a new debt service levy of $0.6500 per $100 of assessed valuation. The district currently has no debt service levy.

Bond issues allow school districts to borrow money for large capital projects that cannot typically be covered within annual operating budgets. With voter approval, the district would sell bonds and repay the debt over time.

Missouri law requires bond issues to receive at least a four-sevenths majority, or just over 57 percent, to pass. A similar measure presented to voters last year failed by three votes.

District officials say using bonds for facility improvements allows operating funds to remain focused on classroom instruction and staff salaries.

If voters do not approve the proposal, the district states that capital improvements may be delayed, or operating funds could be used to address urgent repairs.

Publicly available information outlines the general scope and purpose of the bond issue but does not include an itemized project list or detailed spending plan.

Presentation materials from the March 24 public meeting were not immediately available as of publication.