23,000 students. 35 buildings. 3.35 million square feet. One of the largest school districts in Nebraska, Millard Public Schools has utilized consistent bond cycles to uphold a certain standard for the population they serve. For Millard North in particular, advancements from lighting replacements to the addition of the skywalk have indicated the continued investment in the community.

The current bond cycle is set to vote on a bond referendum of 158 million dollars; ballots were mailed on Jan. 21st and must be sent back by 5 p.m. on Feb. 11th. The tax rate will be maintained at 11.5 cents if the bond is passed.

“Through really good long term planning over many years, having a plan to manage our facility needs and the resources that it requires to maintain them has allowed us to become increasingly efficient,” Millard Public Schools superintendent John Schwartz said.

Construction would commence in the summer of 2026 and finish by 2029, with all schools being affected, although some more than others. Millard North will receive extensive updates to the Skilled and Technical Sciences portion of the school.

“We think that there’s some really great career fields we can expose students to at all three of our high schools by updating that facility space,” superintendent John Schwartz said.

With an estimated budget of 13 million dollars, the bond would enable the STS space, which has not been updated since the original construction in the late 70’s, to be extended and reconstructed.

“The number one thing that it’s going to do is it’s going to provide a more ideal space for those doing woodworking and metalworking,” principal Aaron Bearinger said.

Bearinger has witnessed MN’s continual growth in his 20 years of education, from being a business teacher to building principal.

“I’ve been an administrator for over a decade, and some of the things that have come in are girls wrestling, our Winter Guard, which has increased numbers, and our cheer team practicing and competing more and using space,” Bearinger said. “Anytime that you come to Millard North High School, in the evening or on a weekend, a lot of the space is being used.”

The relocation of the STS area will allow the old space to be redesigned and used as a multi-purpose room, maximizing space and impacting various athletics and activities, such as gym classes, Color Guard, and basketball.

“One of the things that Millard North can’t currently do, which every other Class A school, from my knowledge, can, is have two competitions for basketball going on at the same time,” Bearinger said.

One example of this convenience is Millard West, who can utilize their two gyms to house four basketball games at the same time. Meanwhile, Millard North either has to travel to other schools if basketball games coincide or stagger times. An additional multi-purpose room would not only allow for more games to be played, but also allow for practice space basketball feeder programs and other activities, increasing efficiency.

“It’s really hard to get stuff done when we have to take 400 pound tarps back and forth from a school to a church, it takes up a lot of our time,” senior Marisa Powell said.

Powell, who is a part of Color Guard, has been on the varsity team for all four years of high school. Limited space means many activities, like Color Guard,  are required to travel and move equipment to other spaces in order to practice, impacting their productivity.

“Right now, if we are in the band room, we can’t do any of our tosses because there’s a ceiling. If we’re in the gym, there’s always somebody else there, so it’s hard to be productive,” Powell said.

If passed, the bond will enable Powell and others to practice in designated areas, allowing for the efficient use of practice time. These updates that encompass the bond referendum content have been discussed and strategized by a wide array of individuals.

“Our facilities team, in collaboration with myself and our board, architects, and engineers who serve the district, try and figure out how to scaffold these projects so they get done most efficiently and have minimal negative impact on instruction and our staff,” Schwartz said.

Additionally, by reaching out to the community via telephone surveys, involving local law enforcement in terms of security, hosting presentations, and utilizing third parties, the district has come to a consensus on what people want prioritized.

“We’re just trying to engage with those that are interested in learning more and helping them to understand what’s in this bond issue,” Schwartz said.

The impact of the bond referendum will influence not only the overall growth of MN, but many subset communities. Due to it being made a priority, the renovations will accrue benefits across multiple groups. From athletes to STS students, gym classes to cheerleading practice, the potential updated facilities will be felt for years to come.

“For students that may be graduating by the time some of this work gets done, what I hope is that there’s pride in the district where you attended, and wanting to continue to see it be a thriving district where the students that come after you continue the legacy that you’ve played,” Schwartz said.