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In a special election on May 14, residents in the Columbus Municipal School District will vote whether to approve a $36 million bond for repairs and renovations to district facilities.
In 2008, voters approved a $22 million bond to build Columbus Middle School. The bond was financed by a tax increase on real estate in the district, the final payment for which amounts to 11.85 mills. With that bond expiring this month, CMSD hopes to issue another bond in its place.
Patrons should pay essentially the same tax rate as recent years if voters approve the new bond. However, if voters reject it, homeowners’ school district taxes would decrease by as much as $118.50 per every $100,000 of property value.
The bond requires 60% voter approval to pass.
What will the bond be used for?
The bond money will be used in four different ways, according to the district’s resolution.
The money will be used to make security and safety updates in multiple schools, including upgrading fire alarms, installing sprinkler systems and installing doors that comply with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. While CMSD has not specified which facilities will receive the upgrades, at least six schools in the district lack a working fire alarm system.
The bond will also fund the construction of an external gymnasium at Stokes-Beard Elementary School. The school’s cafeteria currently doubles as the gymnasium.
Some funds will be allocated to repairing and improving drainage issues, specifically at the district’s athletic complex.
The resolution also dictates money will be appropriated to “renovate, repair, remodel, enlarge and equip existing district facilities and grounds,” though the district has not named the specific projects or facilities that will include.
How will plans to go grade span affect schools?
CMSD operates five magnet elementary campuses that house pre-K through fifth grade – Cook, Fairview, Franklin, Sale and Stokes Beard. All of those campuses operate at 60% capacity or less.
Superintendent Stanley Ellis told Rotary Club of Columbus on Tuesday the district plans to convert elementary schools to grade span at some point. That means certain campuses will host certain grades district wide. For example, if a school converts to a K-1 campus, every kindergartner and first-grader in the district will attend that campus for those grades, instead of those grades being split up among the magnet schools.
Does that mean any of the five elementary campuses will consolidate or close? Again, Ellis told Rotary the board is discussing that possibility, but no decisions have been made.
He did say CMSD would not invest as much bond money in campuses that would not see the life of the debt. Cook and Sale would see more investment than Fairview, for example. No bond money is planned for Franklin as of now – with the district instead planning to seek historic grants to fix up Mississippi’s first public school.
Where to vote
Early voting on the bond started April 5. Voters who will be out of town during the special election, are over the age of 65 or have a disability can visit the Columbus Municipal Complex to cast their vote ahead of May 14.
There will be six voting precincts on election day, one in each ward, for residents living within city limits. Ward 1 residents will vote at the Townsend Center on 15th Street South. Ward 2 residents will vote at the East Columbus Gym on Lawrence Drive. The Ward 3 precinct will be at Columbus High School on Hemlock Street. Ward 4 residents will vote at the Sim Scott Community Center on 20th Street North, and Ward 6 residents will vote at Brandon Central on McArthur Drive.
For voters who live outside the city limits but fall into district lines, there will be two voting precincts. The first will be at Brandon Central and the second at Southside Church on Nashville Ferry Road.
McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.
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