The Jefferson City School District Board of Education voted to move forward with a proposal for an April bond issue and approved next year's calendar Thursday.
During the reports portion of its regularly scheduled meeting, Superintendent Bryan McGraw gave an update on the bond issue proposal. The district has an opportunity to seek around $85 million to put toward district improvements, McGraw said.
One of the components of the bond issue is a new early childhood center, which could be constructed on district-owned land near Lewis and Clark Middle School.
Southwest Early Childhood Center would relocate to that building, and Jefferson City Academic Center would move to SWECC's building, while the old JCAC building would become a meeting space for professional development.
The projected cost of the plan is $22.5 million.
Another item is upgrading technology by installing interactive touchscreens in each classroom, which would cost about $4 million.
Miller Performing Arts Center is also a target. McGraw said he would like to update equipment and improve seating and other items for about $1.5 million.
The proposal also included a plan to renovate both middle schools at $7.5 million each.
Other items include updating Nichols Career Center with spaces for building trades, collision repair paint, agriculture greenhouses, culinary arts, criminal justice, and early childhood; remodeling at Belair Elementary; remodeling the current SWECC and JCAC buildings; updating old windows; paying off certificates of participation from energy savings; and paying to finish athletic facility items that were postponed.
Board member Ken Enloe suggested it might be better to move forward on a bond issue sooner rather than later considering trends with interest rates.
The board voted to approve the proposal for the bond issue. The next step would be putting together ballot language for board approval, and if approved, it could go on the April ballot.
Chief of Operations Dawn Berhorst said many projects were progressing or nearing completion at the athletic facilities, but the soccer turf installation would likely not be finished until January or February.
The board also approved a calendar for next school year.
All early releases for staff professional development were eliminated because of transportation issues, so all professional development days are full days. Jumpstart programs will also continue before school begins.