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Schools rethink bond issue

From STAFF REPORTS

Discussion on the timing of a $36 million bond election for a school facilities improvement project is on the agenda for tonight's meeting of the Arkansas City Board of Education.

The meeting will be at 7 p.m. at the USD 470 Central Office, 2445 Greenway.

Arkansas City Public Schools Superintendent Ron Ballard said the board may need to do more than make a resolution with a new date for the bond election.

Originally, the election was set for Nov. 5. But at a recent special meeting, the board rescinded a resolution to have the election on that date. They were told that community leaders organizing a bond election campaign said the November date did not give them enough time to inform the public of all the issues involved in the proposed project.

"I have been in contact with Dale Dennis of the State Department of Education," Ballard said in written agenda notes. "If we only change the date of the election then that may limit the amount of information that he requires us to provide the State Board of Education."

Ballard said the board may consider authorizing a new application to the state for a later bond election.

"One concern may be the timing of the application," he said.

Ballard said his recommendation is that the board direct him to confer with Piper-Jaffray, the citizens committee and other "involved entities" and formulate a recommendation for a new bond election date. That recommendation would be targeted for the Oct. 22 board meeting.

Other action items on the agenda include:

* Approval for Arkansas City Middle School membership in the Pioneer League.

*Approval for a one-year contract with Cowley County Mental Health for services under the supervisory authority of the Cowley County Special Services Cooperative.