The Mid-Prairie School Board is continuing to take steps forward in their facility improvement plans.

Following a special meeting on December 6th, the board approved two public hearings to take place on December 20th in the Central Administration Office Community Room. The first hearing will take place at 6:20 p.m. for the proposed issuance of approximately $14.5 million in School Infrastructure Sales, Services and Use, or Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) tax revenue bonds. The second hearing will begin at 6:35 on the proposed use of SAVE revenue for an athletic facility infrastructure project. Since February, the board has reviewed recommendations, possible project options, costs of the projects and considered various funding sources. A consensus was reached for construction and renovation projects this past November. These projects include new classrooms at East Elementary and the middle and high schools, construction of an auditorium at the high school, and parking lot improvements at East and West elementaries and at the high school. Funding for all of the proposed projects would total $37.62 million and come from a bond referendum, sales tax sources, and donations.  A citizen’s committee is starting a petition drive for a bond referendum totaling $26.3 million. If they collect the necessary number of signatures by January 5th, a bond issue vote will be put up to the district’s voters on March 1st.