(KNZA)--The Hiawatha Board of Education Monday evening unanimously approved a resolution placing a $9.2 million general obligation bond issue on the April 7th general election ballot to fund facility improvements. 

If approved by voters, the bond issue would finance improvements at the districts three schools--the bulk of those at the elementary and high schools.

The action came after the board received firmer cost figures from the consulting firm P1 Group on the projects selected by the board during their December meeting for inclusion in the bond issue.

Some board members expressed concerns about the higher than anticipated revised figures, which totaled nearly 10 million. Included was a 10 percent contingency for unforeseen renovation conditions and additional projects the board may decide to implement during the construction phase. 

Dana Dunn with the P1 Group said its common to include a 5 to 10 percent contingency. Dunn said the overall project increased 4 percent, with the numbers escalated to account for 2016 construction.

Following discussion, it was the consensus of the board to eliminate the 10 percent contingency which they felt could be handle through the capital outlay fund.

The board will hold a special meeting January 21st at 7 to decide whether they will go with a 15 or 20 year bond issue.

The board did decide to go ahead with one project whether the bond issue is approved or not, an upgrade of the plumbing at the elementary schools.  The board gave the P1 Group approval to seek bids for the project so the work can be done this summer.