Central School Board Considering Bond Issue Nov. 16

The Central Community School Board is considering a proposal by Central schools Supt. Mike Faulk to hold a $13.1 million bond election Nov. 16.
The proposal would not raise taxes but would use existing taxes to fund additional capital improvements.  The school board has been paying down existing bonds and has additional bonding capacity.
Under Faulk’s proposal, the $13.1 million would be used for the following:
•    Build a new Ninth Grade Academy at the existing Central High School site.
•    Repair the parking lots at Central High School.
•    Provide lighting for the baseball and softball fields at the high school.
•    Allocate $2 million for technology improvements.
•    Provide asbestos abatement and demolition of unnecessary buildings at the old Central Middle School site.
The bond issue does not include funding for renovations at the old Central Middle School site.
Faulk said the board will have to decide whether to go forward with the bond election no later than July 22, in order for the proposition to appear on the Nov. 16 ballot.
Earlier in the year, the superintendent had asked the board to consider four different propositions, including a property tax increase to fund a teachers’ salary increase.  However, the legislature provided a salary increase for teachers statewide, and that took away some of need for an increase at the local level.
Faulk said the board made it clear to him that they would not consider a tax increase at this time.  Furthermore, they want no more than one proposition on the ballot, he said.
“I’m proposing what needs to be done and keeping it to one proposition,” he said.