The Durant Board of Education, in a special meeting Monday, approved the sale of $1,240,000 general obligation building bonds of the school district on Oct. 21.
This is from a bond proposition of a total of $4 million approved by voters Sept. 9.
The proposition passed by 68.51 percent with 322 votes in favor of it and 148 opposed. The total of registered voters who voted in the election is 470. School bond propositions require a 60 percent super majority.
According to the school district, the funds will be used for constructing, equipping, repairing and remodeling school buildings, acquiring furniture, fixtures and equipment plus acquiring and improving school sites.
“I think we’re very blessed that it passed and our district’s been blessed for the last several decades that the bond issues have passed,” Superintendent Mark Moring said. “I’ve related it back to several of the things we’ve done over the last year. That we’ve been able to improve student outcomes and opportunities based on some bond issues that’s helped us free up some general fund money like our aviation program, the ag facility, our nursing program, the new fundamentals of technology class we’re adding at the middle school.
“Those are all expenses that include some building funds and general funds and we’re able to provide those opportunities for kids because our community is so supportive of these bond issues that help us offset some expenses, so we can put those expenses toward student opportunities.
“We have a bond falling off and our valuation in our school district went up by $12 million,” Moring said. “So, it’s projected to be a no-tax increase bond over the next six years.”
According to Moring, the district should receive the first round of money by about Dec. 1.
“We’ll get it in ‘25,” Moring said. “We don’t get any money in ‘26 and ‘27 because of a previous bond, but then we’ll get some more in ‘28, ‘29, moving on down the road. So, there’s a little bit each year. It’s not all at one time.”
Moring expressed excitement about the funds.
“We’ll sell the bonds October 21st, get it the first of December and start using that money to help our kids out,” he said.