Kelly voters to decide $3 million bond issue for classrooms

BENTON, Mo. -- Kelly School District voters will go to the polls today to decide a $3 million bond issue that would virtually rid the district of portable classrooms.

Superintendent Don Moore said Monday he hasn't received much feedback on how voters feel about the project, but the district has distributed information through the school newsletter and community meetings.

This will be the district's sixth attempt for a tax increase to build classrooms and would take the total levy from $3.17 to $3.36, about in the middle for levies in surrounding districts.

A four-sevenths majority is needed for passage. Under the measure, a person with a $90,000 home would pay $32.49 more in school taxes.

Past issues asked for as much as a 75-cent increase.

New construction would include a new high school attached to the south side of the gymnasium, Moore said.

Elementary and middle school students would move from five trailers housing 13 classes into existing classrooms.

Other projects would include new science and computer laboratories and a new library.

Only a federally funded reading program and the superintendent's office would remain in trailers.