Johnson County Central

2026 JCC PK-8 Bond

October 07, 2026

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Johnson County Central Public School District residents will vote on a $35,000,000 bond issue proposed for a PreK-8th Grade Facility at the General Election on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026.

Following extensive discussions, research, and years of listening to community feedback, the Board of Education will plan for a PreK-8th grade facility to be built on the 52 acres north of the existing football field in Tecumseh, Nebraska following a successful bond initiative in November 2026. The project is expected to cost Thirty-One Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars ($31.8 million), however due to anticipated inflation will not exceed Thirty-Five Million Dollars ($35 million). The board, administration, and Clark-Enersen representatives are still in the planning stages of what is to be included.  In addition to necessary classrooms and office space items being considered include: gym space, performing arts stage and a wrestling room.  

Proposed Bond: $35 Million Over a 25 Year Team

What is different about this bond from the prior bonds?

• Decrease In Size
  • Prior bonds were for a single Pre-K to 12th grade building (125,700 sq ft and 130,000 sq ft)
  • Current - Pre-K to 8th grade building (71,000 sq ft)
• Decrease Scope
  • Build a “Pre-K through 8th grade” facility utilizing a construction bond.
• Bring the existing high school up to code utilizing the building fund.
• Change In Location
  • Locate the building farther south (closer to the track/football field) to minimize dirt work.
• One level structure to eliminate elevators or lifts.
   

Massing:

Site Overview:

Flood Plain Map:

Our Core Problem: Operating Inefficiencies

• Staffing
• Maintenance & Utilities
• Transportation
• Constraints of building & QCPUF fund utilization

Current Facilities:
JCC Elementary PK-3 (Tecumseh) - 1931

JCC High School (Tecumseh) - 1966

JCC Middle School 4-8 (Cook) - 1958
1999 bond to update and expand, $3.4 million.

The Cost of Inefficiency

Staffing

• Absorb 1 administrator ($156,000)
• Absorb 1 office staff. ($67,000)
• Absorb 1 custodial staff. ($62,000)
• Absorb 1 medical staff. ($90,000)
• Absorb 1.5 teaching staff. ($150,000)
• Financial loss due to staff travel ($75,000)
• TOTAL = $600,000/year AND $15,000,000 over 25 years (the life of the bond)

Maintenance & Utilities

• Utilities - Move from OPPD to City of Tecumseh Utilities.
• Move from propane to natural gas.
• Move from 3 buildings to 2.
• Total = $100,000/year AND $2,500,000 over 25 years (the life of the bond)

• *$5 Million spent in the last 3 years on repairs to the facilities.
• **$3.3 Million on the high school in Summer 2026.

Transportation

• Eliminate three shuttles.
• TOTAL = $50,000/year AND $1,250,000 over 25 years (the life of the bond)
  • This does not include “wear and tear” and general maintenance on the buses.

Building/QCPUF Fund Utilization

• Current Tax Asking to Maintain, Repair & Renovate Current Facilities (these numbers increase with valuations)
  • Building Fund at 10¢ ($1,195,000)
  • QCPUF at 3¢ ($358,500)
• TOTAL = $1,553,500 AND $38,837,500 over 25 years (the life of the bond)

TOTAL Dollars to be Saved
$2.08 million/year
Or 
$52 million/25 years

How much is saved?  $52 million or $57 million?

JCC’s current spending trajectory will result in $57 million spent on inefficiencies over the next 25 years.

A successful bond will result in $52 million in savings over the same period.

These numbers differ, as during the first two years of bond payments, we will still need to utilize the Special Building Fund and the QCPUF.  There will be a two year overlap.

Two years of bond payments equates to $5 million, subtracted from the overall inefficiencies of $57 million is $52 million.

$57 million inefficiencies
- $5 million (first two years of bond payments overlapping with last two years of maximizing SBF & QCPUF)
    —-----------------------------------
$52 million in savings

Bond - Calculate Your Impact