CASPER — If the school board tries to pass a bond issue, it won’t happen until 2011.

Natrona County School District staff members and board members re-evaluated information from investment banking firm George K. Baum and Co. of Cheyenne on Monday concerning the possibility of asking district voters to authorize issuance of bonds for several construction projects. Several board members said gathering community support for such a proposal would not be possible before 2011.

“There are other things we have to build, such as trust of the institution,” trustee Audrey Cotherman said.

The board authorized district staff members to investigate the cost, timing and steps involved in passing a bond measure to pay for construction projects not covered in the state’s funding model. These projects total $35 million and include improvements to Kelly Walsh and Natrona County high schools, construction enhancements to the new Summit Elementary School and an eastside activity complex.

The district last put forth a bond issue in 1994, when a $16.5 million general obligation bond proposal passed with 73 percent of the vote.

The district won’t pay any money to the investment banking firm until a ballot measure is decided.

Initial information from George K. Baum and Co. presented several factors for a successful bond campaign. One important factor is to have “crystal-clear clarity” in the wording of the bond issue question and campaigning to pass it.

Staff and board members also discussed the importance of having visual plans drawn up for the projects. Even if the board approves design money for a new high school and renovations to Kelly Walsh and NCHS in January, designs would not be completed for another year, said Mark Antrim, associate superintendent for facilities and technology.

The board discussed splitting the projects into two rounds of bond issues so that construction could start sooner on the more shovel-ready activity complex at Kelly Walsh. A few trustees and staff members thought dividing the projects would weaken support.

“Some places do bond issues every few years — that’s not the culture in Wyoming,” Superintendent Joel Dvorak said. “The culture in Wyoming is if you’re going to go, go.”

Lease-purchasing was presented as an option to passing a bond issue. Under a lease-purchase contract, the school district would find a funding source such as a bank to pay for the project. The district would pay the source with money from the general operating fund. A contract would be drawn up for each individual project. The district would not have the authority to levy a tax.

Finding a backer wouldn’t be tough — the challenge would be to have district agreement that the project is the highest priority for $2 million of the general-fund budget, said Steve Hopkins, associate superintendent of business.