JACKSON CITY FORUM PLANNED

JACKSON -- Jackson residents will meet with school officials Tuesday to discuss growth needs of the district.

The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the middle school. Board of Education members, school administrators and anyone interested in developing solutions is invited to attend.

Superintendent Ron Anderson said the district needs to address crowded conditions at the junior high and elementary schools. The district has grown by an average of about 3 percent annually to its present 4,300-plus enrollment.

Jackson voters overwhelmingly rejected two proposals April 4 that would have increased property taxes a total of 55 cents per $100 assessed valuation.

One resolution called for an $11 million bond issue to fund construction of an elementary school in the eastern part of the district, cover costs to build an addition and complete various renovations to R.O. Hawkins Junior High School, and equip the buildings and add technological equipment throughout the district.

The other resolution called for elimination of the Proposition C sales-tax waiver and an increase of the operating tax levy by 40 cents per $100 assessed valuation to cover the hiring of staff, purchase of textbooks and library books, and cover utility and transportation costs.