Spring ballots put focus on school bonds

Over the past three weeks, black- and red-lettered signs supporting Jackson High School have sprouted up like Easter lilies in the yards of Jackson's homes and businesses.

Spring, administrators say, may be the key to passing a $27 million bond issue for renovations and additions at the high school -- a bond issue that failed last November by about 100 votes.

"With the fall election, there were so many state and national issues on the ballot," said Dr. Ron Anderson, superintendent in Jackson. "This time, people can focus more on the bond issue."

Jackson is one of two local school districts rallying for another shot at passing a bond issue for high school improvements.

April 5 will mark the eighth time Kelly School District has attempted to pass a bond issue to renovate and expand its aging high school. While the first seven tries included tax increases, the current issue does not.

In Jackson, the bond issue has divided the school board race, with three incumbents in support of the current proposal and newcomer Jim Blakemore against it. The board race has the four candidates competing for three seats, each with a three-year term.

Jackson's issue includes a tax increase of 67 cents per $100 assessed valuation, which officials say would translate to an extra $128 a year for the owner of a $100,000 home.

Blakemore, who owns a home remodeling business, said he feels that amount is extravagant.

"I believe we do need some new buildings, but $27 million is just too much," Blakemore said.

Blakemore would like the district to have an alternate, scaled-back plan to replace the current proposal. Among other things, he suggests renovating the school's old gymnasium into classrooms and eventually building a separate freshman-sophomore center outside the city to relieve overcrowding at both the high school and junior high campuses.

It's the community's tax money, so everybody has a right to their opinion, Blakemore said.

"Obviously since it failed in November there are a lot of people who don't agree that this is the best thing for our schools."

The issue needs a four-sevenths super-majority of votes -- or 57.14 percent -- to pass. In November, it failed by less than 1 percentage point.

Seeing the bond issue pass is the major reason all three Jackson incumbents -- Terri Tomlin, Mack Illers and T. Wayne Lewis -- gave for running for re-election this year.

The incumbents, along with Jackson administrators, say the current plan is the most efficient use of money and space.

Lewis, who has served on the board for 18 years, said the school board has discussed the high school project for 20 years and serious planning has been ongoing for more than three years.

"It's not unusual for an issue to take a couple of times to pass," Lewis said. "It's just a matter of trust and communication. There's no question about the need there."

Lewis said he worries that the poor conditions at the high school will eventually affect economic development. People interested in moving into the community have called the campus a "slum," Lewis said.

"Taxes just have a negative connotation," Lewis said. "But I feel positive about this. I'm seeing more activity this time around. But you just don't know what people will do."

Kelly's issue calls for $3.5 million in bonds to build a 34,959-square-foot classroom/library facility as well as a new multipurpose gym/cafeteria.

Kelly superintendent Don Moore said the current facility used by the high school was built in the 1950s and is too small for the district's 1,041 students.

The last time the issue was on the ballot, in April 2002, it called for a tax increase of 19 cents per $100 assessed valuation. This time around, the tax will stay at the current $3.17 due to the expiration of another bond issue.

cmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128