With the passing of Proposition SAFE in April, the California R-1 School District is set to move forward with a brand new facility.
Incite Design Studio (IDS) joined the California R-1 School Board during its Aug. 19 meeting for a “fly through demonstration” of the district’s future athletic and food science building.
In an article from the News Tribune, California’s Proposition Strengthening Academics, Facilities, and Environment (SAFE) received the necessary 57 percent to pass during the April 14 election.
“The bond issue will include a number of pivotal repairs and expansions for the district’s schools, such as new HVAC units, a new playground for elementary students and new roofing for the elementary and middle school building,'” the article read. “The proposition will also fund the creation of a new food science lab, weight room, auxiliary gymnasium and turf training facility, according to the ballot.”
IDS brought a detailed presentation that included renderings, floor plans and project schedules for the athletic and food science building as well as an addition to the high school’s performing arts center. The latter will be used for more space for set design and storage.
The organization asked the board for its input on colors for the exterior of the new building.
IDS members said their next steps are to complete construction documents for future bids. They want to get the metal building out for bid in September.
The rest of the packages IDS expects to get out by late October or early November. It’s still on track to present final numbers to the district in December and start construction in January.
Prior to the demonstration, the school board approved its tax rate hearing for the 2026-2027 school year. Members approved to set the operating fund 1 tax rate at 2.8458 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, and the debt service fund three tax rate at 1.1835 cents.
Superintendent Daniel Williams noted the district’s fund three debt service levy, as promised to voters, remains absolutely constant at 1.1835 per $100 of assessed valuation.
California Pintos archery is no longer a school-sponsored program. In a message given to the school board, the archery program notified members it will transition “out from under the district’s athletic and activities umbrella to operate as an independent school cooperative club.”
The note explained the decision was made after careful consideration of the program’s growth, operational needs and financial sustainability. It laid out financial independence and flexibility in staff scheduling and travel as primary reasons for its departure.
“Operating independently, allows the archery program more flexibility regarding fundraising and term administration fees. Fundraising can include grants. Funding and year-round projects at the club’s discretion, while remaining mindful of the school’s other club and athletic fundraising endeavors,” the message read. “Independent club status gives us a greater flexibility in adjusting coaching staff across teams, accommodating team members, and managing tournament participation, allowing a BAI-certified parent or parents to assist in our program enhances long-term sustainability, avoiding school budget cuts, and helps preserve archery as a legacy sport.”
Williams added the district did everything it could to keep archery as a school-sponsored activity. He said the biggest piece as to why it’s transitioning back into a club was due to a lack of time commitment from coaches.
“We don’t have the coaches, and they don’t commit to every week having those practices and going to the tournaments all day long,” Williams said. “From a financial aspect, there’s no budgetary concern of having that as a school-sponsored activity group. It’s more about everything we do financially that requires advance money. So you’re going to have to request checks to be cut for archery registration fees ahead of time, so that we have those prepared. You have to make hotel reservations with purchase cards and have to do that in advance. You can’t just walk around with a credit card and do those things, or a checkbook and write checks. So I understand where they’re coming from. Really happy that they have full intention of continuing both the middle and high school programs.”

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Kaden Quinn is the editor of the California Democrat. He is a resident of Jefferson City and a graduate of Lincoln University where he received a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a minor in English.
Kaden has worked for various publications while in high school and college. His internship with the Jefferson City News Tribune led him to his current home, the California Democrat.
Quinn began his career with the Democrat in May 2021 as a reporter and became the interim editor in January 2022. Three months later he was officially named editor.
He enjoys covering the California and Moniteau community, reporting on a wide variety of stories, from county news to school updates and business openings. His goal as the editor is to always present information fairly and accurately.
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