Woodlawn To Pursue $2.2 Million in Bonds

WOODLAWN - The Woodlawn School Board decided Monday night to pursue $2.2 million in construction bonds to help pay for construction of the new career education center as well as other possible projects.Meanwhile, Woodlawn Elementary Principal Zach Meyer and Woodlawn High School Principal T.J. Hill told the school board during its regular monthly meeting that preliminary scores on the Arkansas Teaching, Learning, and Assessment System (ATLAS) tests show significant improvement over last year.The school board’s decision on the bond issue came after it held a special called meeting with Jason Holsclaw of Stephens, Inc., the district’s financial adviser, on April 28. The purpose of that meeting was to review the district’s option on how much bond money to pursue at this time.Last year, voters in the Woodlawn School District approved a 2-mill tax increase that generated about generate $3.85 million for the district. In promoting the tax increase, the school board said the money would be used to help expand the cafeteria and build the new career education center.While the 2-mill increase is enough to fund $3.85 million in bonds, the district is not obligated to pursue the entire amount at this time. By pursuing a lesser amount, the annual payment the district makes on the bond issue will be smaller as well.Both the career education center and cafeteria expansion have received state partnership money to cover some of the cost, which frees up some money to be used elsewhere.Superintendent Dr. Kevin Hancock told the board in previous meetings that he wanted some of the millage money to be used as matching funds for other possible partnership projects like replacing the aging air conditioning/heating units on campus as well as upgrading the district’s wastewater treatment system. He told the board he is pursuing state partnership money for both of those projects. Hancock also mentioned buying new playground equipment for th...