Superintendent Reflects on Bond Defeat, Future of Junior High
- Anna LaBay
- Aug 13
- 2 min read
McCOOK, Neb. — In a live interview Wednesday morning on KICX High Plains Radio, McCook Public Schools Superintendent Grant Norgaard responded to the failed $42 million school bond and discussed what comes next for district facilities.
The bond, which proposed a new junior high, industrial arts facility, and a connection to the high school, was defeated Tuesday with 1,124 “yes” votes and 1,929 “no” votes — about 37% in favor, 63% opposed. The total turnout was over 3,000 ballots.
“It’s not what you want to see as a superintendent,” Norgaard said, “but it was great to have that turnout. People clearly care about the community.”
Cost and Timing
Norgaard cited construction costs and interest rates as major barriers, noting that initial estimates came in around $60 million before cuts brought the proposal down to $42 million.
“It’s just so expensive to build right now. We trimmed over $10 million off the original plan,” he said. “But it’s still a big number, and I understand why that caused concern.”
What’s Next for the Junior High
With the bond defeated, the district now plans to reinvest in the current junior high building, starting with roof repairs as early as next summer. Norgaard also mentioned ongoing issues with the boiler and HVAC systems.
“We had to hold off on those repairs while the bond vote was pending,” he explained. “Now that it’s failed, we need a plan in place to address those systems.”
Looking Ahead
Norgaard acknowledged that the vote margin was too wide to consider another bond proposal anytime soon.
“We weren’t even close,” he said. “There’s not an appetite right now for another facility bond.”
Still, he expressed hope for future changes to how school infrastructure is funded in Nebraska.
“Some states support school construction at the state level. Maybe Nebraska needs to look at that. We can’t apply for the same grants as other public entities, and that limits what we can do.”
He also recognized the challenges facing other districts across the state — none of the school bond measures voted on Tuesday passed.
“It’s going to take creativity, new structures, and possibly legislative changes before schools can build again,” he said.
Full Interview
The full interview aired live on KICX High Plains Radio with Rich Barnett:
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