JACKSON SCHOOL BONDS MAKE SENSE, GOOD VALUE

It's possible to have too much of a good thing. Such is the case in the Jackson Public Schools, where student overcrowding has hampered the educational process. We urge voters to approve a $4.7 million bond issue on Tuesday that will finance construction of a new middle school.

At R.O. Hawkins Junior High, 900 students attend classes in a school built for a maximum of 500. Crowded classrooms and lack of space also frustrates staff and students at West Lane Elementary School. There are currently 660 students at West Lane, which was designed to serve 550 students. The district's answer: a new middle school that would house sixth and seventh graders. This new building would relieve overcrowding at both the elementary and junior high levels.

Construction of a new middle school would cost the district about $5.4 million. But it won't cost residents any additional tax dollars if the district extends its current bonded indebtedness. Under the proposal, the tax levy would remain at its current $2.85 per $100 assessed valuation.

The $4.7 million approved by voters would be matched by $400,000 already allocated in the current school budget, another $100,000 earmarked from the 1993-94 budget, and $200,000 from interest generated on the bond proceeds. That would bring the total funding up to $5.4 million.

This overcrowding problem won't go away. The Jackson school district is experiencing steady growth in its student population. The district currently serves 3,600 students. By the end of the decade, it's projected to top 4,000. The growth can be attributed to a growing city and the school district's reputation for academic excellence.

Eliminating severe overcrowding is not the only advantage of a middle school. It will provide a buffer that will help these young people better make the transition from elementary to secondary school. The new middle school will also allow room for growth - with space for 700-750 students.

A 26-acre tract of land has already been purchased at the corner of Route D and Broad Ridge. With voter approval this month, the district could begin construction in August, with students able to move into the new school in the fall of 1994. With low financing rates, now is the time for action.

This bond issue is not connected to the 35-cent school tax levy increase sought by the district last year. That proposal would have addressed operational costs. This bond issue would be limited to "bricks and mortar."

The bond issue has had solid support from the community - and that's important. When business and industry look to expand, one of the first things they want to know about a prospective community is the state of the schools. Even if you don't have a child in school, you benefit from a quality public education system. Construction of a new middle school is worthy of your support on Tuesday. We urge you to vote yes.