WOODLAWN - The Woodlawn School Board approved two resolutions during a special meeting Tuesday night regarding the issuance of bonds related to the construction of the new career education center and other projects, but the exact amount of those bonds is still to be determined.
The school board met with Jason Holsclaw of Stephens, Inc., the district’s financial advertiser, before the meeting to discuss the district’s options regarding funding for the new career education building as well as other the projects that Superintendent Dr. Kevin Hancock said the district is pursuing through the state’s partnership program.
Last year, voters in the Woodlawn School District approved a 2-mill tax increase that generated about $3.8 million for the district. While expansion of the school cafeteria and the new career education center were two of the projects promoted with the millage increase, Hancock said Tuesday night that he wanted to see how far the district could stretch that money to also provide matching funds to support other projects on campus.
Hosclaw presented the board with two resolutions: one for an issuance of the bonds fundedby the millage increase, and another that would allow the district to be reimbursed for any money spent on projects before the district actually receives the bond money.
Most of the discussion centered on the first resolution and how much money to actually ask for at this time.
While the district has access to all the $3.8 million generated by the millage, Holsclaw had written the resolution for $2.2 million.
In an interview after the meeting, Hancock explained that the conceptional budget for the reduced size of the career education center came back at $2.3 million. The state is providing $1.3 million in partnership money to help pay for that project, leaving a balance of about $1 million.
While various amounts were discussed, the board ultimately decided to include the phrase of “up to” $2.2 million in the resolution rather than include an e…