Gordon-Rushville Middle School

Part 6 of 6: Gordon-Rushville Public Schools Bond Information Series

Voter Guide: What to Know Before Nov. 3

Ballot question asks voters to authorize up to $24.85 million
for school projects in Gordon and Rushville

GORDON, Neb. — Oct. 29, 2026 — Registered voters in the Gordon-Rushville Public Schools district will decide Tuesday, Nov. 3, whether to authorize the district to issue up to $24,850,000 in bonds for construction and renovation at its schools in Gordon and Rushville.

Nathan Livingston, superintendent for GRPS, expressed his gratitude to the community for being involved in this process. “Thank you to everyone who has come to a community meeting, toured our buildings or taken the time to ask questions. Whatever you decide, we want that decision to be based on accurate information. If you still have questions, please call me or visit GRbond.org. No question is too small.”

What a vote means

•     A For vote authorizes the district to issue bonds of up to $24.85 million for the projects described in the ballot question.

•     An Against vote means the district would not be authorized to issue the bonds.

A majority of votes cast decides the measure. The amount is a ceiling; the district cannot borrow more and is not required to borrow the full amount.

What the bond would fund

•     Gordon-Rushville High School, Gordon: Replace the original three-story building, about 100 years old, with a two-story addition that includes classrooms, offices, a ground-level cafeteria and commons, and a secure entrance. Renovate existing space for a weight room, wrestling room and locker rooms, and replace the track.

•     Rushville: Build an elementary addition onto Gordon-Rushville Middle School to replace the current Rushville Elementary building, with limited renovation inside the middle school. Elementary students, teachers and programs would remain in Rushville.

Gordon Elementary is not part of the construction. When complete, the district would operate three school buildings instead of four and maintain about 19,000 fewer square feet.

What it would cost

The district estimates the bond would add 16.2 cents per $100 of taxable valuation, based on a 25-year repayment schedule and current rates. For a $100,000 home, that is about $162 a year, or $13.50 a month. For agricultural land, which is valued at 50% of actual value for school bonds under Nebraska law, estimates range from $0.71 per acre for Sheridan County grassland to $3.47 per acre for Cherry County irrigated land.

Actual amounts will depend on interest rates when bonds are sold and on future valuations. Property owners can estimate their own impact with the calculator at GRbond.org, which also has concept drawings, answers to common questions and earlier articles in this series. Questions may be directed to Superintendent Nathan Livingston at 308.282.1322. 

The ballot question as it will appear on the ballot:

School Bond Election — Sheridan County School District 0010 (Gordon Rushville Public Schools)

Shall Sheridan County School District 0010 (Gordon-Rushville Public Schools), in the State of Nebraska, issue the bonds of said District in the principal amount of not to exceed Twenty-Four Million Eight Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($24,850,000) for the purpose of paying the costs of constructing an addition at the high school in Gordon to replace the original three story building including classrooms, administrative offices, cafeteria/commons space, and support spaces with improvements, and renovations to the existing high school including safety and security improvements and secure entrances; and renovations for a weight room, wrestling room, locker rooms, and safety updates for the track; and an addition at the middle school in Rushville to replace the existing Rushville Elementary building including classrooms, offices and administrative spaces and support spaces with some minimal renovation within the existing middle school building including safety and security improvements and secure entrances; and providing for necessary furniture and apparatus for such school buildings and additions; said bonds to be issued from time to time as may be determined by the Board of Education, to bear interest at a rate or rates to be determined by the Board of Education and to become due at such time or times as may be fixed by the Board of Education; and

Shall the District cause to be levied and collected annually a special levy of taxes against all the taxable property in said District sufficient in rate and amount to pay the interest and principal of said bonds as the same become due?

Voting choices:

•     FOR said bonds and tax

•     AGAINST said bonds and tax 

Images included with the article are draft 3D representations that show the scale and potential look of the proposed buildings.  They do not represent final colors and/or finishes.