Residents gathered at Saint Joseph High School on Monday to hear more about the district's plans for a 38-million dollar building improvement bond. Board of Education President Frank Pastrick says that it might be hard to ask for that kind of money in such economic times, but the crowd was pretty receptive:
District officials say they need to money to carry out a variety of upgrades on several aging buildings. They've narrowed the areas in need of improvement down to four categories -- technology, security, energy efficiency, and performing arts center upgrades. The 38-million would work out to about two mills over 24 years. A similar plan was discussed in 2008, but dropped when the economy went sour. Pastrick says that this revised, less expensive, proposal may prove to be more popular with the public:
The board could make a decision on whether to move forward at its next meeting:
Superintendent Al Skibbe says that it's important for people to speak their minds between now and next week:
Those in attendance at Monday's forum were asked to fill out cards regarding their level of support for the project, but Skibbe says you can still have your say:
Skibbe said told residents that in order to provide local students with the kind of school district that others aspire to be, it will be necessary to carry out many of the improvements discussed. If the school board chooses to proceed with this bond, it would go before voters in May.
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