The Ardmore, Okla., City Schools board of education voted Monday to hold a special election for a new bond issue, which would fund several construction projects throughout the district.
The new bond issue is a pared down version of a bond that failed to pass in November, reworked to prevent taxes from increasing if it passes.
The board plans to hold the special election for the $44,165,000 bond on April 3.
Superintendent Kim Holland said the board created the new bond based on community feedback after the first bond failed to pass by a narrow margin in November.
"If this passes, the tax rate would not go up again," Holland said. "It would remain the same as when they passed the [bond to buy] buses. We're trying to be responsive to what our community wanted."
The new bond will fund construction of a performing arts center, repairs to Charles Evans Elementary's foundation, replacements for Ardmore High School's outdoor walkways and updates to restrooms. The bond will also go toward purchasing new vehicles for the school district, like maintenance vehicles and driver education cars.
The new bond will also fund an addition to Jefferson Elementary's gymatorium, which was not included in the previous version.
"We heard from a lot of people in our community that it was time to do that," Holland said.
The proposed 800-seat performing arts center would also contain space for fine arts classes, rehearsal space, galleries and an outdoor amphitheater.
