JACKSON CAN'T LEAVE NEW BOND ISSUE TO CHANCE

The Jackson Board of Education is taking a big chance in going back to voters for a third time in hopes of finally winning passage for a school bond proposal.

The reason to take the gamble, from the board's perspective, is that the need for additional revenue hasn't disappeared, despite voter rejection of ballot proposals in April and August. Overcrowding at R.O. Hawkins Junior High School remains, and the district says it didn't fill needed staff positions, purchase new library books or undertake certain facility improvements over the summer due to tight budget constraints.

However, the board runs the risk of further angering voters who have twice said no. If the district isn't successful at the ballot box on Nov. 7, it would mean three failures in eight months. Another defeat would deliver the district's leadership a severe blow from which it could take a long time to recover.

This time around the district is asking for a $6 million bond issue, which comes with a 10-cent increase in the district's debt-service levy, for improvements at the junior high school.

To be successful, the school board and district administrators must do a much better job of selling the proposal than the did in the previous two attempts. So far, however, they aren't off to a very good start.

During the Aug. 23 meeting where the board decided by a 5-1 vote to put the bond issue on the ballot again, many district patrons in attendance asked for a specific breakdown of costs for the junior high project. The board couldn't -- or wouldn't -- provide details. It took school administrators more than a day to find a breakout of how the $6 million would be spent as requested by the Southeast Missourian.

The plan -- actually an architect's estimate provided in December -- calls for $5.73 million to be spent on improvements at the junior high school. The remainder, after cost overruns not already accounted for, would be spent on furniture and classroom equipment at that school plus technology upgrades districtwide.

The needs at the junior high are real, but the district will have to provide voters with specifics on how it will spend the money and be able to make their case. In particular, school officials must be responsive to requests for detailed information sought by the district's taxpayers.

Past missteps won't automatically kill the November bond vote. The board still has time to develop a strong strategy for convincing voters.

But it can't wait too long. Nov. 7 is approaching fast. District leaders have chosen to roll the dice a third time. They can't leave the outcome to chance.