Some of the district’s most urgent facility needs were addressed through lease purchases. In the past, McPherson voters were unable to pass bonds to address the significant needs across the district. In those cases, leases allowed the district to address critical needs immediately, rather than waiting for funding that didn’t exist.
Here are the three leases being paid off through the bond:
- 2017 Lease – Central Plant & Eisenhower Upgrades
- Cost: $1,592,273
- Purpose: Updated McPherson High School’s central plant and Eisenhower Elementary, including the hot water boiler, HVAC controls, and valves for efficiency
- Benefit: Made systems more efficient, saving the district about $78,036 per year
- 2022 Lease – Outdoor Activities Facility
- Cost: $3,105,000
- Purpose: Built a space for outdoor activities at MHS for soccer, football, track, and band
- Background: McPherson College was previously used, but growth in programs made that space insufficient
- Community donations of $1.2 million helped equip the facility
- 2025 Lease – HVAC Work at WES & EES
- Cost: $675,000
- Purpose: Replaced aging HVAC systems that were past their expected life and had no backup
- Background: These systems could fail at any time, potentially closing classrooms
Why it matters:
Paying off these leases through the bond allows nearly $400,000 per year to be redirected toward preventive maintenance. This step helps the district replace systems before they fail, reduce emergency repairs, and make facilities safer and more reliable for students.