After 18 years, the school board proposed another bond issue. The main issues the bond addresses involve replacements of old and worn out materials, additions to the buildings and security improvements. Superintendent Clay Murphy further explained these issues in a public meeting held on Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

To start the meeting, Mr. Murphy first discussed past bond issues, the most recent one being back in 2001. Mr. Murphy stated that this past bond issue had been paid off so there would be no additional interest put on the new one to pay it off. He also stated that this put the board ahead of schedule, keeping their promise of having it paid off in the 2021-2020 school year. 

As far as the new bond, he predicts these changes will last for 20-plus years, addressing the concern of the changes not lasting long and needing another bond shortly after this one.

“We still shouldn’t have it [even though the last one was paid off] because it means higher taxes,” senior Kyler Alloway said.

The most drastic changes being proposed are adding a new high school gym and maintenance shop classroom. The new gym will be located and connected to the entrance east of the south hallway. This will also cause the entrance with the speed bumps and curve following around the shop to be adjusted to fit accordingling.

“[The gym] isn’t a necessity,” senior Amy Zoglmann said, “but it’s not the most atrocious thing [we could do to our school].”

Many different changes are being proposed with this new bond. The general public in the school district can vote on the bond on general election day, Nov. 5. With this new bond, there is much for the public to consider and debate before they decide how they want to vote.

“Everyone is in different places in life, and you’ve got to see where you are,” Mr. Murphy said. “I’ve seen bond issues tear communities apart, and I don’t want that.”