EAST PRAIRIE SCHOOL VOTERS TO DECIDE BOND ISSUE

EAST PRAIRIE -- Voters in East Prairie will consider a bond issue today that would help ease overcrowding for the 1,243 students in the school district.

If passed, the issue would raise approximately $1.7 million over the next 18 years to pay for a new school and completely renovate another building. The issue would increase property taxes 10 cents per $100 assessed valuation. Property owners currently pay $3 per $100 assessed valuation.

"We have a tremendous problem with overcrowding," said Superintendent Jack McIntosh. "Right now we're having to have class on our stage, and we had to remodel some janitorial areas. We're trying to undo some past mistakes that we had to do."

The district currently has four campuses: Martin campus, which houses preschoolers and kindergarteners; Doyle campus, which houses first- through third-graders; Webb campus, which hosts fourth- through sixth-graders; and the high school, which is attended by seventh- through 12th-graders.

McIntosh said the school district will be completely realigned if the bond issue passes. Students will be shifted, he said, so that preschoolers through second-graders will attend the Doyle campus and the high school will house grades nine through 12.

In addition, the Webb building would be closed, but seventh- and eighth-graders would attend classes in a remodeled building on that campus. A new school would be built on the Martin campus to house students in third through sixth grades.

"We're talking about changing the major direction of education in East Prairie," McIntosh said. "We've worked for about a year looking at all of the buildings and making a plan for the district, and I think the community has pulled together behind this thing."

East Prairie Mayor Lonnie Thurmond agreed. "I really think it's going to show our community is behind our school system," he said. "The school's just a big part of our community and we feel there's a need. We have a good school system and we want to keep it that way."

Even with the support of city government, however, McIntosh said today's vote is an unusual one that may make getting the issue passed more difficult. Two-thirds majority of all votes cast is needed to pass the issue, although only four-sixths of all votes would have been needed if the vote had been held during regular elections on April 1.

"We thought seriously about trying to run it in April, but we just weren't able, so we divided to do it at the next possible time," McIntosh said. "Unfortunately, that means we need two-thirds rather than four-sixths."

If the issue does not get the two-thirds majority, McIntosh said it would be business as usual for the district. "We'll have to make do with kids on the stage and in janitorial closets," he said. "That's not good education, but we'll have to do it if the people say no."