November 3 School Bond Proposal
Rushville's School: What Changes, What Doesn't, and Why
Safety and Savings Drive Plan to Bring Rushville Students Under One Roof
October 7, 2026 – Improving safety by ending daily walks across the street and lowering the cost of operating separate buildings are the two main reasons Gordon-Rushville Public Schools is proposing to move Rushville elementary students into a new addition built onto Gordon-Rushville Middle School, according to the district.
If voters approve the bond Nov. 3, Rushville Elementary would not close, and no Rushville elementary programs would be eliminated. Its students, teachers and programs would remain in Rushville, in a new addition across the street from the building they use today. What would change is the building, and some parts of the school day. Earlier options considered during the planning process were different, but under the proposal on the ballot, both elementary and middle school students would remain in Rushville.
District budget estimates show the overall bond plan would save at least $213,000 a year in staffing, utility and maintenance costs once construction is complete. Combining Rushville's elementary and middle school in one connected building is part of that estimate.
The Rushville project is one of two parts of the $24.85 million bond question. The other is the replacement of the original three-story portion of Gordon-Rushville High School in Gordon.
Where the savings would come from
The district's estimate of $213,000 in minimum annual savings has two parts.
Staffing, about $127,500 a year. The district estimates it could absorb:
A half-time administrative position, estimated at $67,500 a year
One custodial position, estimated at $60,000 a year
Maintenance and utilities, about $85,500 a year. The bond plan would reduce the district's total building space by about 19,000 square feet. The district's estimates for that space are:
Heating and cooling: $28,500 a year, based on a Nebraska average of $1.50 per square foot annually
Repairs and maintenance: $57,000 a year, based on $3 per square foot annually, within an estimated range of $2.50 to $4 per square foot
The district describes these figures as minimum potential savings. Additional savings may come from lower maintenance and facility costs in the space that would be kept and renovated, which were not included in the calculation.
Superintendent Nathan Livingston remarked, “Being able to reduce the total number of buildings from four to three would allow the district to be more efficient in utilizing resources and provide cost reductions in maintenance and staffing. The decrease in staffing achievable by utilizing one building in Rushville will be done through attrition as staff members retire, so there are no plans to lay off any staff.”
If the district were able to reduce its property tax request by $213,000 a year, it estimates the savings would total about $8.3 million over the 25-year life of the bond, assuming 3.5% annual inflation.
What the estimate covers
The savings estimate applies to the full bond plan, not Rushville alone. Of the roughly 19,000 square feet the district would no longer maintain, nearly 6,000 would come from replacing the stand-alone Rushville Elementary building with a smaller addition. Most of the rest would come from reducing the high school in Gordon from about 85,000 square feet to 71,285.
The staffing estimate does not include any reduction in teaching positions.
“GRPS students have ranked higher on average than Nebraska students in general on state assessments. Nebraska also ranks in the top quarter of the nation on various academic rankings, so we are committed to continuing to provide the quality education that GRPS teachers are currently offering our students” noted Superintendent Livingston.
Why the building would change
The current Rushville Elementary is a separate building across the street from the middle school. Its original section is approximately 85 years old, with an addition built about 15 years ago.
Because the current elementary building does not have a cafeteria or gym, students cross the street to the middle school each school day for lunch and physical education.
Mr. Mills, Rushville Elementary Principal mentions, “the most critical and important consideration is the safety of our students. Since there is no cafeteria, commons, or gym at the current building, our students have to cross the street daily multiple times. During the winter months, when we have had sub-zero temperatures, our students have to get coats, hats, gloves and snow boots on twice a day for lunch and specials at the GRMS building. This results in loss of instructional time for both classroom and specials teachers. Additionally, on inside days due to inclement weather, our students have no facility to use for recess, because we have no commons area or gym. Having the elementary in the same building as the cafeteria and gym would be beneficial for our students and staff.”
At Rushville Elementary, the assessment identified concerns that include:
· the age and condition of the original building;
· multiple accessibility issues;
· no fire sprinkler system;
· aging plumbing and some equipment;
· structural framing concerns; and
· no cafeteria or gymnasium on site.
What the new elementary space would include
The bond proposal includes an approximately 12,383-square-foot elementary addition built directly onto Gordon-Rushville Middle School. The addition would replace a stand-alone elementary building that is nearly 6,000 square feet larger.
JEO's concept drawings show the addition with:
· classrooms along a central hallway;
· smaller rooms for specialized instruction and support services;
· offices, a reception area and administrative space; and
· restrooms and other support spaces.
The plan also includes about 4,313 square feet of renovation inside the existing middle school. Approximately 22,410 square feet of the middle school would remain as it is.
New construction would be designed to current accessibility and life-safety requirements, including fire suppression. The elementary would have its own secure entrance, and the middle school would also gain a separate secure entrance.
The drawings are concept plans. If voters approve the bond, detailed architectural design would take place after the election with input from teachers, staff, administrators and community members.
One building, separate school spaces
The proposal is designed to keep elementary and middle school functions separate while allowing the two schools to share facilities and resources. Elementary students would no longer need to leave the connected building for lunch or physical education.
District officials also expect the shared campus to reduce some long-term operating costs by allowing staff, utilities and resources to serve both schools. The district hopes to move some of the existing playground equipment to the area next to the new addition.
Future of the Current Elementary Building
After students relocate to the new addition, the Board of Education would seek a buyer for the current Rushville Elementary building.
Construction Timeline and Transition
With voter approval on Nov. 3, the district expects construction to begin in spring 2027, following detailed design and competitive bidding. Completion is targeted for fall 2028, though some portions may be finished and put into use earlier.
The plan calls for new additions to be built first. Students would remain in their current classrooms during construction and then move into the new space, an approach intended to limit disruption and avoid the cost of temporary classroom buildings.
The district's construction manager, BD Construction of Kearney, would work with administrators and teachers to schedule the most disruptive work when school is not in session.
Learn more
Community information meetings are open to all residents:
Oct. 7, 5:30 p.m. - Gordon-Rushville Middle School, Rushville
Oct. 13, 5 p.m. - Merriman Senior Center, Merriman
Oct. 14, 5:30 p.m. - Gordon-Rushville High School, Gordon
Oct. 21, 5:30 p.m. – Pleasant Point Church, South of Gordon
Oct. 23, 9 a.m. - Gordon-Rushville High School, Gordon
Additional meeting locations and dates will be announced when scheduled. Bond information, conceptual plans and additional questions and answers are available at GRbond.org.