Residents hear options

Bond issues are options the board will consider to raise money for a new facility.
By SEAN BARRON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NORTH JACKSON -- Even though he will have graduated from high school by the time a new North Jackson High School-Middle School building will be erected, Chris King's fervor for seeing it become a reality has not been dimmed.
"We have great teachers, but they need a better school," said Chris, 16, a junior at Jackson-Milton High School.
The teenager was among about 150 people who filled the high school cafeteria to attend Wednesday's special school board meeting.
The session was set up to allow residents to express their opinions on the possibility of the board reallocating inside tax millage to raise revenue for the new facility and hear other options for generating money.
Inside millage is imposed by local governments without voter approval.
Voters turned down bond issues three times in 2005 that would have raised the necessary funds for either a new school or for renovating current buildings.
Four options
Superintendent Warren "Buck" Palmer outlined four options for building a new high school/middle school and/or making repairs to the current facility, built in 1913.
The first option is placing a 4.2-mill levy on the May primary ballot. The levy would be for permanent improvements for renovations or for a new building. Dollar amounts were not available.
Another option would be a 1-mill levy for the May ballot, which also would be a permanent improvement levy, but it only would be for necessary repairs to the high school and elementary school, which was built in the early 1970s. Again, dollar figures weren't available.
The third option, Palmer continued, would be a 28-year bond issue that would raise the estimated $13.5 million for the new high school/middle school building.
The final option, also a 28-year bond issue, would generate $10 million to build just a new high school.
Most of the people who offered feedback supported the first option and building the new 450-pupil school for grades six through 12.
Reactions
One resident on a fixed income said she supports the new school for her six children. Another man, who said he was retired and also on a fixed income, said he wants to see kids benefit from having a new school.
Others who attended the meeting voiced their concern that without a new school people will send their children to other school districts, which is made possible by open enrollment policies.
"It's about our kids. It's about our community. It's about our future," one woman said.
A few people said the current school should be renovated and maintained. "Quality education is what will bring people here," another woman stated.
Palmer noted that the 92-year-old high school building is unsafe and in need of roof, window, sewage and other renovations. The roof has received patchwork repairs over the years, and will need to be replace, Palmer said.
"This is the No. 1 problem in the six years I've been here," he said. "We have an unsafe situation kids are in all the time."
Palmer said the school board likely will vote next week on which of the four options to adopt.