Lakeland Bond Issue Discussed Thursday

The Lakeland School Board will continue a discussion on a bond issue proposal at a special meeting scheduled Thursday.

The school district is considering a spring bond election for a junior high school to serve the northern part of the district. The proposed junior high would be large enough for 450 students.

The suggested bond issue also would cover the cost of adding five classrooms and remodeling a science classroom at the senior high, providing covered play areas at Athol and Spirit Lake elementary schools, remodeling John Brown Elementary School’s media center and purchasing equipment for the new building and classrooms.

In addition, school officials are planning to use the bond to pay for the addition of seven classrooms at Garwood Elementary School. Expansion of Garwood would require approval from the Panhandle Health District. The school was built only after the health district provided a variance to its restrictions on sewage-loading over the aquifer.

A second proposed item on the ballot would give voters the option of approving funding for kitchen facilities for a districtwide hot lunch program. The school district does not provide hot lunches now.

Thursday’s board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the school district headquarters. , DataTimes