The Washington Community School Board approved a resolution to order an election for issuing bonds to construct a new middle school Wednesday.

During their regular meeting Business Manager Jeff Dieleman presented the general obligation bond petition which required 147 signatures to order an election, and the district received 250. The board then approved to order an election on the issuance of $25 million in bonds to pursue constructing a middle school addition to the current high school. This option was chosen based on feedback from two online public surveys.

Superintendent Willie Stone reminded the board that they are pursuing a slightly larger amount than the $24 million project estimate as this will allow for property assessments to increase with the tax levy staying at $2.70. Addressing the current middle school, Stone said that the $25 million budgets for demolition costs to the building, unless they can form an agreement with a developer who will put investments into the property over a contracted number of years. The next step for the September 14th special election is for the board to form a bond issue committee to promote the referendum.