Woodlawn Approves Bonds for Career Ed Center

Bond Issue Will Provide About $2.1 Million in Construction Funds for New Building

  • NEW WOODLAWN ELEMENTARY PLAYGROUND - Crews are making the finishing touches this week on some all new playground equipment that will greet students at Woodlawn Elementary when they return to school next month. Woodlawn invested $178,343.66 in the new equipment that features swings, swinging bars, slides, a rock wall and more all on top of a cushioned artificial surface.
    NEW WOODLAWN ELEMENTARY PLAYGROUND - Crews are making the finishing touches this week on some all new playground equipment that will greet students at Woodlawn Elementary when they return to school next month. Woodlawn invested $178,343.66 in the new equipment that features swings, swinging bars, slides, a rock wall and more all on top of a cushioned artificial surface.

    WOODLAWN - The Woodlawn School Board formally approved a resolution last Thursday authorizing a $2.1 million bond issue that will be used in the construction of a new career education center at the Woodlawn High School campus.

    Jason Hosclaw with Stephens, Inc., the school district’s financial adviser, told the board during its regular meeting last week that the bond issue will be for $2.2 million with the district netting $2,100,686.20 to go toward construction once fees are deducted. 

    Carty, Harding & Hearn of Memphis was awarded the bond issue after submitting the lowest interest rate of four bidders. Carty’s interest rate was at 4.099912 percent while the other bids were at 4.2 percent or higher. Holsclaw said the bond issue is scheduled to close on Aug. 18, and the district will have three years to spend the money after that.

    After this latest bond issue, Holsclaw said the Woodlawn School District will be paying about $225,000 annually toward its bond debt with the payments ending in June 2055. He noted that the district stands on strong financial footing since it is bringing in about $500,000 each year to cover its debt payment.

    This is the second bond issue approved by the Woodlawn School Board after voters passed a 2-mill tax increase in May 2025 to help fund an addition to the school cafeteria plus build a new career education center. The board approved about a $1 million bond issue last October for the cafeteria expansion.

    The bond money for both the cafeteria expansion and career education center will be combined with state partnership to help pay for the projects.  Woodlawn received $395,3236.28 in state partnership money for the cafeteria project and $1,290,334.40 for the new career education center. Superintendent Dr. Kevin Hancock told the board last Thursday that the cafeteria project is about 22 percent complete while the plans for the new career education center are being developed.

    Legislative Audit

    Hancock also went over the findings of the…