Published: August 28, 2009 11:04 pm         

Timberlake, Hennessey school districts set to vote on bond issues Sept. 8

Voters in the Hennessey and Timberlake school districts soon will have a say concerning two bond issue elections.

The votes will be Sept. 8, and school officials are hoping voters will favor updates for their district’s facilities.

“We’ve got quite a few projects on this bond issue,” said Hennessey Public Schools Su-perintendent Joe McCulley.

Among the projects awaiting a 60 percent approval by patrons are:

• Two new science classrooms with labs.

• A new library/media center.

• A new roof on the high school.

• New heating and air conditioning system at the high school.

• Replacement of carpet with new green flooring at elementary, junior high and high schools.

• Remodeling of the cafeteria and kitchen, creating more space and seating.

• A concession sales area for ball games.

• Early childhood playground equipment.

Hennessey’s bond issue is for $2.9 million, with a projected 26.84 percent ad valorem tax increase.

“That means an extra $26.84 per $100 in taxes,” McCulley said.

With some facilities in the district aging and little room for the school’s expanding needs, McCulley said calling for a bond election is necessary to bring the facilities up to par.

“We feel a need for it and we’ve got a good response,” said McCulley, who said there is no other way to make the changes without a bond issue. “It’s the rules we’ve got to play by. We know it’s tough and we understand.”

Hennessey currently does not have any early childhood playground equipment, and ball game concessions are set up in a make-shift manner in the school’s lobby. The other renovations stem from expanding technological needs and the age of the facilities.

“We haven’t done anything to our high school since ’69 when it was built,” McCulley said.

Hennessey’s bond issue is scheduled for a five-year payout.

Voters in the Timberlake Public Schools district will be voting on a $9 million bond issue.

“The plan is to build a high school, a junior high and a gymnasium on a site approximately nine miles north of Helena,” said Timberlake Superintendent Brent Rousey. “The main issue is to get it where Timberlake school is at one site.”

Currently, the junior and senior high schools are located in Helena and the elementary school is located in Jet. Timberlake school is consolidated from Helena, Goltry, Jet and Nash.

Rousey said he understands many Helena residents are concerned about the town losing the school, and many farmers and landowners are concerned about a tax increase. However, operating a school with such a small enrollment, about 250, would be more fiscally efficient at one school site rather than two.

The building of a junior high school, high school and gymnasium would be the first step toward bring Timberlake schools to one site.

“This is basically just phase one,” Rousey said.

If the bond issue passes, the ad valorem tax increase would be approximately 24.24 percent.

“That’s $24.24 for every $100 that you spend (in property taxes),” Rousey said.

He said the bond money guarantees the new high school, junior high school and gymnasium at the new site. However, construction estimates were conservative, so Rousey is hoping to have money left over for ball fields, an ag barn and maybe more.

A town meeting was held Aug. 22 to answer questions for voters in the Timberlake district.

Anyone with questions or concerns about the Hennessey bond issue may attend a special board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the seminar room of the school auditorium.