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USD 417 Bond Information
USD 417 MORRIS COUNTY SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS
On March 3, USD 417 voters will consider a school bond totaling $31.5 million to address crucial updates across the district.
This bond focuses on improving safety and security, replacing outdated and undersized classrooms, and strengthening career and technical education (CTE) programs such as welding, healthcare, and agriculture.
These projects will be built to last and honor Morris County’s past. We want your help in choosing the historical elements that should be remembered and highlighted in the new school design, likely in custom stone elements. Please provide your feedback on which historic images should be showcased.
*All renderings, plans, and images are conceptual and subject to change.
BOND FINANCING
HOW THE BOND WOULD AFFECT TAXPAYERS:
30-YEAR BOND
$31.5 MILLION
- $200,000 Residential Property:
- $9.58 per month increase
- $200,000 Commercial Property:
- $20.83 per month increase
- Agricultural Land:*
- Dryland - $00.35 per acre annually
- $56.16 per 160 acres annually
- Grassland - $00.15 per acre annually
- $24.48 per 160 acres annually
- Dryland - $00.35 per acre annually
*Estimated median use value of 160 acres Dry Crop Land is $37,440.
Estimated median use value of 160 acres Grass Land is $16,320.
Estimates only, land-owner must calculate based on crop productivity.
USD 417 MORRIS COUNTY
Bond 2026
Property Tax Estimator
Enter your property values to estimate the annual and monthly tax impact for the proposed USD 417 school improvements bond.
Estimated median use value of 160 acres Dry Crop Land is $37,440. Estimated median use value of 160 acres Grass Land is $16,320. Estimates only, land owner must calculate based on crop productivity. Actual taxes may vary.
CORRECTION:
In a previous brochure, the annual tax impact to farmland was incorrectly listed per acre instead of per 160 acres, which overstated the cost. The corrected information here shows the actual tax impact to farmland owners, which is significantly lower.
SAFER SCHOOLS, BRIGHTER FUTURE
Secure facilities, improved circulation, and safer drop-off areas protect students, staff, and visitors.
BUILT TO LAST, HONORING THE PAST
Replacing the oldest parts of the Jr/Sr High School creates infrastructure that will serve the community for decades and support modern learning. The new construction will incorporate elements, including limestone and brick, that will weave the fabric of Morris County history into the
architectural design.
COMMUNITY NEEDS MET
The proposed projects (including expanded early childhood learning capacity) reflect extensive input from staff, steering committee, and the community.
COUNCIL GROVE JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL
IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE:
- Create a new secure entry
- Remove outdated building areas
- Construct a new academic addition
- Future-ready classrooms
- New centralized media center
- New career and tech education classrooms
- Breakout areas for collaboration and small-group learning
- Improved foot traffic circulation supports better visibility and supervision in and around the school
- Renovate existing career and technical education (CTE) spaces
- Improve Fine Arts / Auditorium area
- Updates to theatrical equipment
- Improved production spaces
- Develop new parking areas
- Improves the safety of students and staff with better traffic flow
Want to weigh in on which historic images are considered in the architectural design? Provide your anonymous feedback:
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View from Hockaday and K-177 -
South Main Entrance -
View from Hockaday and K-177 -
View from K-177 at South Entrance
COUNCIL GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE:
- Remove portable classrooms
- Replaces temporary spaces with permanent, modern classrooms
- Renovate annex into an Early Childhood Center
- Expands the specifically-designed space for early learners
- Increases childcare capacity for community members
- Build a new classroom addition
- Adds 11 flexible classrooms designed for modern teaching and learning
- Directly connects to the Early Childhood Center, creating a fully connected elementary school
- This connection improves safety and supervision by keeping students and staff within one secure, continuous building
- Supports expanded early childhood education, which plays a critical role in long-term academic success and positive learning outcomes
- Improve parking and circulation
- Enhances safety during drop-off and pick-up
- Increases parking availability at the front of the building
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Aerial View of North Side -
South Playground and New Parking -
North Side of Building
PRAIRIE HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE:
- Update and improve the secure main entry
- Improves safety and visitor management
- Renovate former locker areas
- Converts outdated space into functional learning or support areas
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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A school bond is a voter-approved funding method that allows a school district to make major, long-term improvements to school facilities that cannot be paid for through the district’s annual operating budget. Bonds are used for projects like improving safety and security, replacing outdated classrooms, upgrading infrastructure, and creating modern learning and career training spaces. Without a bond, the district must continue relying on temporary solutions that do not address long-term facility needs.
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USD 417 schools have growing safety, space, and infrastructure challenges that cannot be solved through routine maintenance. Some elementary students still learn in portable classrooms, drop-off and pick-up areas create safety concerns, and many classrooms across the district are undersized and outdated. At the junior/senior high school, aging facilities limit modern instruction and career and technical education opportunities. This bond focuses on district-wide safety improvements, flexible and future-ready classrooms, and expanded career and tech education spaces that better prepare students for today’s learning environment and tomorrow’s workforce.
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Student needs and teaching methods have changed, and school facilities must evolve to keep pace. Delaying these projects will only increase costs as construction prices continue to rise and temporary fixes become less effective. After extensive input from staff, a steering committee, and community meetings, the district determined this plan is the most responsible path forward. Acting now allows USD 417 to improve safety, replace outdated spaces, expand career training opportunities, and invest in facilities that will serve students and the community for generations.