Columbia Board of Education briefed on $80 million bond issue to build new schools
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Columbia Board of Education will decide next month whether to put an $80 million bond issue that would fund two new elementary schools, renovate buildings with sinking foundations and provide security upgrades before voters.
The $80 million bond question would appear on the April ballot if approved by the board. The board heard a presentation on the bond issue Monday night.
The funds would help build a new elementary at the John Warner campus, renovate and add to the Columbia Area Career Center, add onto Battle Elementary and provide safety and security projects in two phases -- one starting in June 2022 and another beginning in June 2024. The funds would also be used to build a second new elementary school in 2024.
Randy Booch with the Columbia School Board says the decision to renovate and add to the career center stemmed from problems over the past year and a half.
"It's also in the part of the building that is the oldest, it's almost a 40-year-old structure. Some of that instructional space was great in 1978 or so but it doesn't necessarily meet the changing programming that we've had there over that time frame," Booch said.
School officials say approval of the bond issue would not raise the district's property tax levy for debt service.
Columbia Board member Blake Willoughby says if the board approves the $80 million bond it could offer more opportunities for the children.
"It's pretty impressive what some school districts have and if we're able to join them at that kind of space. I think it's going to be really good for our students and provide opportunities for new types of programs," Willoughby said.
Columbia has had to build new schools and add onto existing buildings repeatedly over the past several years as the district population grows. The district's newest elementary school, Cedar Ridge, opened in 2018. It replaced the old Cedar Ridge.
The district's current building plans include a $30 million bond issue in 2026 and a $110 million issue in 2028, which will in part pay for a new high school.
