By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times
Kasey Huebner
Q. What steps led to the Panorama School Board’s decision to hold this vote?
A. In 2022, the Panorama Community School District conducted a gym feasibility study to explore the possibility of expanding facilities. After careful consideration, the school board decided not to pursue the project at that time.
The district took another look in February 2025 and wanted to know the status of our district facilities. Panorama Schools partnered with SVPA Architects and KED Bluestone to conduct a thorough facility assessment. This process identified critical areas for improvement that extended beyond the gymnasium. To ensure a well-rounded perspective, the district gathered input from various committees to discuss the district’s needs. This feedback was instrumental in shaping a facility vision that aligns with the district’s academic goals.
The assessment revealed several priorities, including essential infrastructure upgrades such as roofing and the building envelope, enhanced safety measures, and renovations to align spaces with our academic objectives. With the recent payoff of debt from a previous general obligation bond, the timing now is ideal for reinvesting in the school district. This initiative aims to strengthen Panorama Schools and enhance the community as an exceptional place to live, learn and grow.
Q. Share the specifics of how funds would be used if this bond issue is approved.
A. Our school improvement plan focuses on key upgrades to enhance safety, accessibility, infrastructure sustainability and academic alignment. We will replace the elementary school’s outdated roof and aging HVAC system to ensure a safe and comfortable learning environment, with HVAC upgrades funded through existing PPEL/SAVE levies. These infrastructure improvements will allow our buildings to be operational for many years to come.
We would install fully accessible playground equipment with an accessible surface, allowing all students to enjoy recreational spaces. To improve safety, we will retrofit the elementary school entrance into a secure, controlled entry point, ensuring that visitors who enter the building won’t have access to the entire building.
To align with our academic vision emphasizing creativity and hard work, which are critical skills for future employment, we will expand the woodworking shop, remodel agricultural education spaces, and centrally relocate the art room. With nearly 40% of our graduates entering the workforce directly, these renovations will prepare students for high-demand careers and future success.
We also would expand the middle school gymnasium to meet the growing needs for space. The space is too limited to host many of our own middle school events, making it difficult for participants, spectators and the school community to fully engage. Over the past five years, requests for gym space have steadily increased across multiple programs and age groups. This bond gives us the opportunity to invest in a long-term solution, one that expands student opportunities, supports our school and community programs, and provides a safe, modern facility that serves our school and community for generations to come.
Expanding our facilities means more than just adding space; it means creating a gym that can host a wide range of events, draw more people to our community, and provide a welcoming environment for students, families and visitors.
Q. If the bond referendum is approved, what impact will property owners see on their tax bills?
A. In Iowa school finance, the debt service levy is a voter-approved property tax levy used by school districts to repay the principal and interest on general obligation bonds issued for capital projects, such as school construction, renovations or equipment purchases. These bonds can be authorized for up to 20 years.
An approved general obligation bond referendum would have an estimated property tax impact of up to $1.96 per $1,000 of taxable value, not assessed value. For a $250,000 home in the Panorama school district, this would result in an annual increase of approximately $222.91. For a $400,000 home, the tax impact would be an estimated $362.36 per year.
Panorama’s debt service levy was $2.30 per $1,000 of taxable value for many years until debt recently was retired from a 2007 bond referendum used to construct Panorama Auditorium. With an approved bond in November, the district’s debt levy of $1.96 still would be lower than what local property taxpayers have been accustomed to. Since we are currently paying our 2024-2025 taxes, what we are paying now is what we would expect to pay if this bond issue passes.
Q. When and how can those who live within the Panorama Community School District vote?
A. The election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eligible voters will need a valid ID to cast a ballot.
Polling locations can be found on the Iowa Secretary of State’s website at https://sos.iowa.gov/elections-voting, or by contacting the Guthrie County auditor’s office.
If you are not registered to vote, you can complete a registration form and return it to the Guthrie County auditor’s office before Oct. 20. You may also register on election day at your polling location.
Registered voters may request a mailed absentee ballot through the Guthrie County auditor’s office by completing a request form and returning it to the auditor’s office by Oct. 20. Completed ballots must be received by the auditor’s office before polls close at 8 p.m. on Nov. 4 to be considered for counting. In-person absentee voting will be available weekdays during regular business hours at the Guthrie County auditor’s office Oct. 15 until Nov. 3.
Q. Any final thoughts?
A. Anytime a school board puts out a vision, we hope our community will see the value in the vision and support it. In the past, the board made decisions that focused on being financially smart, opting not to pursue projects that would increase tax rates. This proposed project enables us to reinvest in our district and community while maintaining the current tax rate, without adding to it.
We’re committed to building schools that families are proud to choose, schools that prioritize safety, opportunity and a sense of belonging. Modern, functional spaces help us retain the families we serve and attract new ones, including the talented staff who make our schools strong.
We believe that “good enough” is never enough. Growth comes from a mindset of continuous improvement, which is the same mindset we want to instill in every student. By investing in our physical spaces, we send a clear message — we take pride in our schools, we believe in our community’s future, and we are committed to creating an environment where excellence is expected and supported every day.
We have been hosting community meetings to provide opportunities to ask questions and learn more about the district’s facility needs and the November bond referendum. We have held four meetings, with two more planned. The first is Oct. 17 at the Yale Community Center from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., and the final meeting is Oct. 29 at Panorama School at 6:30 p.m. Full details of the proposal are online at www.panoramabond.org