Just over a month after a bond intended to fund a capital improvement plan for the district failed to pass, The Lowndes County School Board on Friday voted to move forward with some items in that plan.
In a 3-1 vote, the board voted to move forward with plans to purchase property for a new career tech center, build a new elementary school on the Caledonia campus, build a new field house for New Hope High School, upgrade the gym at New Hope Elementary, revamp the sewer system on the New Hope campus and continue with upgrades to the West Lowndes Campus.
In August, the board attempted to pass a $47 million bond issue that would have built a new vocational center for the entire district, a new high school on the New Hope campus, a new elementary school at Caledonia as well as numerous capital improvements throughout the district.
At 51.87 percent, the majority of voters approved the bond. However, the bond needed 60 percent of votes cast to win.
After the failed August vote, Wright said he intended to move forward with the district’s plans.
During Friday’s meeting, board member Wes Barrett made the motion to accept the resolution with board member Brian Clark seconding. Clark asked board attorney Jeff Smith to explain the resolution and what it would mean for the district.
“This is simply a resolution that states the intent of the school district is to continue and move forward with all financial avenues available to it as well as a future bond issue,” Smith said.
Referring to the resolution as a “state of intent,” Smith then told the board, “Basically what it says is you’re going to move forward, that you’re not giving up.”
The motion passed 3-1 with board member Jacqueline Gray opposed. Board president Jane Kilgore was absent from the meeting.
Wright said he and the board would meet before the November board meeting to discuss how to proceed.
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
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