News puts School Bond facts on You Tube

Click here to view the presentation.

In a special election set for Tuesday, December 4 voters will be asked to approve an $11.5 million dollar bond to pay for improvements to Central Elementary School in St. Anthony. The Fremont School District 215 Board of Trustees voted to hold the election at its last regular meeting. The DIstrict scheduled informational meetings about the bond in Ashton and St. Anthony, but not in Island Park.

The Island Park News has converted the District's PowerPoint presentation on the bond into a YouTube "movie" that can be viewed at the above address. More than half the money the bond would raise would come from Island Park taxpayers.

The $11.5 million request is based on estimates from two contractors. The money would be spent constructing a new facility for pre-K to third grade students and existing building renovations for kids in grades 4 and 5.

Last April, voters turned down a $19.2 million bond proposal that included the Central Elementary School renovations, which were then estimated to be $13,200. The rest of the money was to be spent adding a 1,000-plus seat County Fine Arts Center at South Fremont High School, and adding four classrooms to Ashton Elementary. No dollars were committed to Island Park, although a school facilities report the District did more than 10 years ago proposed building a school in Island Park for kids in grades K - 3.

In April, the Board said Central needs to be expanded because the school was built for 200 students but the current enrollment is more than twice that and could jump to 480 students by 2010.

The Board plans to hold meetings to discuss the bond proposal at 7 p. m. Tuesday, November 6 at North Fremont High School and at 7 p. m. Wednesday, November 14 at South Fremont High School.

District voters should also see a brochure explaining the bond in their mailboxes soon.

The Island Park polling place is at the City Building in Last Chance. Other polling places are at schools in the district. Polling places will be open 8 a. m. to 8 p.m.

To vote absentee before election day:

Go to the district's administration office, 147 N 2nd W in St. Anthony. You can vote with an absentee ballot right on the spot.

Or, call the office at 624- 7542 and ask that an absentee ballot request form be mailed to you. Then once you receive the request form, mail it back right away and a ballot will be sent to you which you must then be sure to mail so it arrives by Election Day.

This is part of the November 2, 2007 online edition of The Island Park News.

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