HERMANN — Directors of the Gasconade County R-1 School District could act next month to seek voter approval in April for a bond issue to finance capital improvement projects such a new roof and heating-and-air conditioning upgrades.

A report in last week’s edition of this month’s board meeting was interpreted by some readers to indicate the board indeed had ordered a bond issue placed on the April 8 ballot. The board did not act; the information provided to the directors by the administration was for information purposes only, Superintendent Geoff Neill said. No action was recommended by the administration.

If the board decides to move forward with a vote it could do so at its Jan. 9 regular monthly session. A similar $5-million bond issue was narrowly defeated in August.

Local government entities considering issues for the April 8 General Municipal Elections ballot have until the end of Tuesday, Jan. 28, to adopt orders placing issues on the ballot.

In R-1, the administration points out the need to replace the roof on Hermann High School, a project estimated to cost about $2 million. Additional upgrades also are needed to the HVAC system in part of Hermann Elementary School, according to district officials.

Another project that could benefit from bond issue financing is an expansion of the portion of the high school that houses the Agriculture Education Department and the high school’s woodworking classes, which are becoming increasingly popular with students.

A community survey was conducted recently regarding various issues related to the schools — conditions of facilities, how they affect teachers and students and how they impact recruitment and retention of staff, as well as potential support for making improvements. About 300 people in the district responded to the online survey.

If a bond issue is sought, it would be a no-tax-rate-change issue, meaning the district’s portion of the property tax going to the Debt Service Fund would not be increased to pay for the new bonds. Rather, the tax already in place retiring previous bonds would remain in place after those bonds are retired and be used to pay for the new round of bond financing.

A bond issue requires four-sevenths (57.14 percent) majority to be approved. The proposed bond issue that was on the August ballot fell short of that threshold only by about 30 votes.