Stronger security and a new school: Blue Valley asks JoCo voters for $186M bond issue

Voters will decide whether Blue Valley schools can issue $186 million in bonds to tighten security throughout the district and build a new elementary school — with no tax increase.

Residents of the south Johnson County district should have received mail-in ballots, which are due by noon Jan. 28. If approved, the funds will also allow the district to improve aging facilities and add classrooms to keep up with growing enrollment, said incoming superintendent Tonya Merrigan.

“If this bond were to not pass, we wouldn’t be able to do many of these things,” said Merrigan, who will take over as district superintendent in July, replacing retiring Superintendent Todd White. “There aren’t other sources of money for us to fix our buildings, so this is a crucial time for us to make sure we invest in buildings and infrastructure to provide the best education to our students.”