In the Spring of 2013, a Long Term Capital Plan Program was launched. The first action undertaken was to have a Professional Services Assessment completed on the District’s Facilities and Technology.  The Gobles Board of Education hired the Professional Services Firm’s, Tower Pinkster (architecture) and Secant (technology), respectively, to perform this service.  The Professional Services Assessment identified approximately twenty million dollars of need. The Gobles Board of Education then authorized moving forward with defining a Long Term Capital Plan Program and the hiring of Professional Services Firm’s, Stauder Barch (finance) and Thrun (legal), respectively, to assist with planning.

In the Fall of 2013, a Community Steering Committee was formed for the purpose of reviewing the Professional Services Assessment and to determine immediate and future next steps. The Community Steering Committee first engaged the Professional Services Firm’s, Tower Pinkster and Secant, with questions for clarification. The group then engaged the Professional Services Firm’s, Stauder Barch and Thrun, on various scenarios with financial and legal impact. 

In the Winter of 2013, the Community Steering Committee presented a Long Term Capital Plan Program Recommendation to the Gobles Board of Education for approval. This recommendation consisted of an initial 2 mill sequential Bond for infrastructure, safety and security, transportation, and technology in the approximate amounts of $4,500,000 in 2014, $1,500,000 in 2019, and $1,500,000 in 2024, a 2 mill Sinking Fund over 10 years for roofs and other infrastructure projects to be voted on in May of 2016, and in 2024 renewing a 2 mill Sinking Fund over 10 years combined with issuing another Bond. The Gobles Board of Education approved the Community Steering Committee’s Long Term Capital Plan Program Recommendation.

The initial 2 mill sequential Bond (Gobles Forward) was put on the ballot in May of 2014 and was successful (Bond 2014). Additionally, the 2 mill Sinking Fund over 10 years (Gobles Forward 2.0) was put on the ballot in May of 2016, and was also successful.