Voters overwhelmingly approve $80 million Columbia school bond issue

Roger McKinney, Columbia Daily Tribune
·2 min read
An artist's rending of the proposed new elementary school (background left) on the John Warner Middle School property.
An artist's rending of the proposed new elementary school (background left) on the John Warner Middle School property.

The $80 million Columbia Public Schools bond issue was victorious on Tuesday night in final-but-unofficial results.

The bond issue garnered 17,724 "yes" votes and 5,698 "no" votes.

A 57% majority was required for approval. No property tax increase is connected with any bond issues in Boone County. The margin was 76% in favor and 24% opposed.

"The community has always supported the school district, and I'm happy that it is continuing," said Superintendent Brian Yearwood on Tuesday night.

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The projects in the bond issue will benefit teachers, administrators, students and parents, he said.

He wants to build on the public support to create a better school district, he said.

"I'm super happy about that," school board member Blake Willoughby, who won a second term Tuesday, said of the bond issue.

The bond issue will allow the district to respond to growth and better meet the needs of students, he said.

The CPS proposal includes two new elementary schools, costing $25 and $28 million, with the construction of the first, least expensive school on the property of John Warner Middle School starting in June. Construction on the second elementary school is planned to start in June 2024.

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Also included in the proposal is a $4.5 million addition at Battle Elementary School, with construction starting this year.

There's $15 million in the plan for an addition and renovation at the Columbia Area Career Center.

There is other money in the plan for security enhancements and improved accessibility inside and outside school buildings.

These other Boone County districts also had successful bond issues:

Centralia's $10 million bond issue is designed to allow the school district to catch up on maintenance. Voters approved it by a 77% majority. In the Audrain County portion of the school district, it earned 79% approval.

Hallsville's $6 million bond issue is for an eight-classroom wing at the middle school. It received 76% support from voters.

Southern Boone School District in Ashland's $3 million bond issue is to make major repairs to the track and field at its high school stadium. It passed with a 73% majority.

The Harrisburg School District's $3 million bond issue is for an addition to its computer lab and media center and remodeling of kitchens at the middle and high schools. It received support from 69% of voters.

Roger McKinney is the education reporter for the Tribune. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Voters overwhelmingly approve $80 million Columbia school bond