A school bond proposal is on the ballot
CRYSTAL FALLS -- In an effort to provide major upgrades at a minimal cost the Forest Park School District is looking to the voters.
The school is asking for a one year bond extension with a 0.51 mil increase to fund capital improvements.
The average tax payer would pay an additional $20 per year over eight years.
"Everybody has a very tight budget at this time as does the school, and that's why we're asking our voters to support the students," said Forest Park Superintendent Tom Jayne.
If passed, the bond would bring in $775,000 for the 2011-2012 school year with that money going towards capital improvements like technology upgrades.
Jayne said the improvements are needed for students, like Joan Toivenen, who are using eight-year-old computers.
"It's really frustrating. I have two online classes, and it takes me about 10 minutes to get the computer running before I can even start," said Toivenen. "It takes out so much time of my class."
If passed, the bond extension would also go towards replacing buses, some of which are 14 years old and have logged more than 200,000 miles.
Jayne said these are not optional upgrades.
"We are still going to have to provide new technology, and we're still going to have to purchase new buses within the next two to three years," he said. "That money will have to come out of our general fund operations...and some other programming or personnel will take some type of reduction."
These are decisions Forest Park is hopeful they won't have to make.
The election is Tuesday, May 3.
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