A bond issue to raise money for renovations at Ames High School will be decided upon by Ames residents and ISU students Tuesday.

The proposed Ames High School Bond Issue is a $10 million bond that would fund an additional sprinkler system, a new cafeteria and renovated locker rooms to the school.

Parts of the school are in need of “drastic change,” said Ames High School Athletic Director Judge Johnston.

“Our school has problems because it was built for 1,000 students and three grades. We have 1,600 students and four grades. One example is our cafeteria, which only seats 300 students.

“We have to schedule classes around lunch times, which undermines our academic goals and really frustrates our administration,” he said.

Johnston said the locker rooms, which were designed in the ’60s, are an eyesore and don’t meet the needs of student athletes.

“The locker rooms are really bad and don’t meet our needs,” he said. “For example, we have no space for the female coaches to change.”

If the bond issue is approved, financial support for the bond will come out of property taxes by adding 47 cents per $1,000 valuation.

Proponents of the bond said this isn’t an increase in taxes because an old bond issue, which costs 87 cents per $1,000 valuation, is expiring this year.

“The best part about this bond issue is that we’ll get new facilities and pay less than we have in the past,” said Jane Acker, president of the Ames Board of Education. “Property taxes will actually decrease by 40 cents.”

Carol Kenealy, director of School and Community Relations for the Ames Community School District, said the bond issue vote matters to ISU students.

“Many Iowa State faculty have children in the Ames Community School District,” she said. “An up-to-date and safe school is a positive aspect to the community, and students as well, to ensure top-quality professors come to Ames and stay.

“Even if a student is planning to leave Ames after graduation, this is a chance for them to make an impact on the Ames community,” she said.

Not everyone is in support of the bond issue, Johnston said. While no groups have organized in opposition to the bond issue, some residents have criticized the plan.

“Some have expressed concerns that we’re adding on to the building in the face of budget cuts,” he said. “However, the budget cuts won’t affect the bond issue, since building renovation costs will come from property taxes.”