The Oxford School District will host a series of community meetings starting Monday to gather input regarding a proposed bond issue.
School officials want the public to be a part of the conversation during the meetings, the first of which is scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m. in Kayla Sue Mize Auditorium at Oxford Middle School.
The district's proposed bond issue would primarily fund the construction of a new elementary school for first- and second-grade students.
Brian Harvey, superintendent of Oxford Schools, said the district wants to get feedback from community members about the idea of a new elementary school and where it could potentially be built.
Harvey said OSD needs to accommodate its growing student population.
"We're growing, and we already have some of our first-grade classes split off from the rest of the classes, and we need a new elementary school," Harvey said.
Additionally, Harvey said the bond issue would likely address other needs throughout the district, and he hopes to hear from stakeholders on those issues as well.
Projects at other schools could include new roofs and window replacements, among other repairs.
The public can also share input with school officials during additional community meetings on May 1 and June 5. All community meetings are set to take place at 6 p.m. in the auditorium on the middle school campus.
The Oxford School Board has not set a dollar amount for the proposed bond yet, and Harvey said it likely won't be set until all needs are evaluated after the final community meeting.
"Gradually, we hope to be able to zero down on an amount for the referendum and a resolution by the end of June," Harvey said.
Harvey said he hopes to hold the referendum by early October.
