Ep 55 - Liz Littleton and Aaron Boyce - No-Tax Increase Bond Explained: Classrooms, Arts, Community Growth

Send us Fan MailThe morning starts light—melting snow, sponsor love, and a social media peek behind the curtain—then surges with a high-tempo hoops breakdown that feels like courtside seats. Dexter’s size and pacing, Sikeston’s pressure defense, a flurry of steals, and shooters finding rhythm set the tone for a team built on secondary break, spacing, and shared scoring. It’s the kind of system kids love because effort turns into touches, touches into points, and points into momentum. With district seeding on the horizon, the vibe is confident and earned.Then we pivot to the decision that could shape Sikeston for the next decade. Guests Aaron Boyce and Liz Littleton, co-chairs of Better Schools, Better Communities, join us to unpack a no-tax increase bond that funds three targeted projects: nine new classrooms each at Wing and Lee Hunter, plus new performing arts classrooms at the high school. They explain the mechanics in plain English—responsible refinancing of existing bonds to unlock about $11.3 million without raising the current levy—and why phased investments are part of a long-term facilities plan that the community asked for after 2014.Equity and safety sit at the center. Wing and Lee Hunter have modern gyms, cafeterias, libraries, and FEMA-rated safe rooms; Southeast Elementary doesn’t, and its floodplain status blocks FEMA support. Rather than pour outsized dollars into an aging site, the district would consolidate grades into expanded, newer schools and repurpose Southeast for services like special services offices or an expanded autism program. The result: a better elementary experience for every child and dedicated space for band, choir, orchestra, and drama—programs that enrich school culture and keep students engaged.We also cover accountability and logistics. The ballot language restricts funds to the stated projects, bond payments route directly via the state, construction is staged to avoid classroom disruption, and local contractors get priority where possible. Businesses scout communities by their school investment records, so passing this matters for economic growth and property values as much as it does for students and teachers.If you care about kids, arts, safety, and Sikeston’s momentum, your voice matters. Mark April 7 on your calendar, register if you haven’t, grab a yard sign, and ask for a school tour if you want to see the need up close. Subscribe, share this with a neighbor who votes, and leave a quick review—then tell us: are you a yes on the no-tax bond, and why? 👉 Subscribe, rate, and share The Doghouse — your home for Sikeston Bulldogs and everything Sikeston.🎧 Listen: Apple | Spotify | Amazon Music | Buzzsprout | iHeartRadio🌐 Visit: thedoghouse.buzzsprout.com📱 Follow: Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube ✉️ Contact: [email protected]