School Board Will Explore Bond Issue
Rodney Phillips (left) took a seat at the table as a school trustee for his first meeting after he was appointed in December to fill a vacancy.
By David Howell
Editor
WATER VALLEY – A 20-year old bond will be paid off by the Water Valley School District in the coming months and school trustees are exploring the initial steps to issue new general obligation bonds to make improvements at the schools.
The school district’s business manager, Randy Goodwin, reported the final payment to retire the $1.9 million school bond issued in 1998 will be made in March or April. Goodwin’s monthly financial report came during the Jan. 22 school board meeting.
Trustees authorized Goodwin to contact the Young Law Group to determine the initial steps to issue new general obligation bonds for various needs in the district including roof work, new school buses, adding a new air conditioner at the gym and other needs that have been identified during the last year.
“We need some big ticket items and that is the only way I know to do it,” Goodwin explained during discussion on the matter.
The $1.9 million general obligation bond issued in 1998 was combined with another $1.8 million in local money to fund renovations and additions at the high school and junior high building and at the elementary campus. The spending marked the last major capital improvement for the school district and included the construction of a tech prep and science lab, a band hall and a music department addition at the high school.
The 1998 project also included construction of the multi-purpose building adjacent to the junior high building. At the elementary school, improvements included a new kindergarten classroom, a new band and music room and a new science lab addition. The money also was used for interior renovations at all three schools.
Other work in the 1998 project included the construction of a new administrative building and installing additional seats on the visitor side at the football field.
Other Business
The Jan. 22 meeting also marked the first for new school trustee Rodney Phillips, who was appointed in December to fill the remaining year in Lamar Burgess’ term. Burgess resigned in December after serving since 2000.
“He is fresh off his training,” school trustee Taylor Trusty reported as Phillips was welcomed to the board.
Shortly after the welcome, trustees selected officers for the school board for 2018, voting unanimously for Pierce Epes to serve as president, Bryan Gilley as vice-president and Chris Terry as secretary. The appointments for the five-member board are made annually.
The final topic in the meeting was a bid from Synergetics to install a new intercom and phone system for the entire district. The $128,000 bid was tabled to give trustees time to review the specifics. The cost to the school is expected to be $94,000 as a portion of the project will be funded through the FCC’s E-rate program that makes telecommunications and information services more affordable for schools and libraries.
Trustees then voted to enter executive session to discuss personnel issues including the annual superintendent review.
