School-bond election set June 27

The Board of Education of the Davis School District voted unanimously recently to schedule a June 27 bond election.

The election, which would take place during the county's primary election, will call for voters to approve a $230 million proposal that would assist the district in keeping up with rapid growth and help it maintain existing buildings and other properties.

If voters approve the measure, district officials promise the current tax rate would not increase. The district made and kept the same no-tax-rate-increase promise in its 2002 bond, which voters approved by 89.6 percent.

Assistant Superintendent/Business Administrator Bruce Williams explained the proposed bond would pay for major projects such as:

• Construction of six additional elementary schools

• Construction of one new junior high school

• Additions to Farmington and South Davis junior high schools

• Additions to Reading and South Weber elementary schools

• Rebuilding of Wasatch Elementary School

• Purchase of future school sites

In all, 400 projects are included in the proposal and touch virtually every area of the district. Those projects include replacing roofs, putting down new asphalt, upgrading auditoriums and stages, adding additional computer labs, upgrading heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and replacing old bleachers and ceiling tile.

Williams explained district representatives made 130 separate presentations during the district's 2002 bond campaign in an effort to educate voters about the proposal. He said the district will again make as many presentations during the current campaign. Those presentations will be made to school faculties, PTAs, city councils, newspaper editorial boards and the general public.

• In a related note, District Elementary School Director Craig Poll informed board members that because of increased growth, Antelope, Cook and Heritage elementary schools would be switching from a traditional nine-month schedule to a year-round schedule at the start of the 2006-2007 school year.

He added that growth will also cause Sand Springs Elementary to move from a single-track to a multitrack year-round schedule at the start of the upcoming school year.

On the other hand, Creekside Elementary School will move from a year-round to a traditional nine-month schedule at the start of the 2006-2007 school year.