Credit – Standard Democrat
Four school districts in Scott County will see improvements — including a new elementary building in Sikeston — after voters approved no-tax increase bond issues during Tuesday’s municipal election.
Voters in the Sikeston R-6 School District approved an $11 million, no-tax increase bond issue with 1,988 “yes” votes and 540 “no” votes in Scott County. New Madrid County voters living in the Sikeston R-6 district also favored the issue with 384 voting in favor of it and 197 against it. The total vote was 2,373 to 737, or 76.3 percent. A four-sevenths majority, or 57.1 percent, was needed for approval.
R-6 Superintendent Tom Williams and other administrators were present to hear the results announced Tuesday at the Scott County Courthouse in Benton.
Following the vote tallies, Williams said he and others in the district were extremely excited about the bond’s passage.
“We get the opportunity to see the support for our school system through a community effort,” Williams said.
He commended Bart Grant and Michelle Worth, who co-chaired the bond steering committee, Better Schools Make Better Communities.
“They did a phenomenal job and we’re extremely pleased with the amount of work they put in — and not only those two but the others who were working the door-to-door campaign and speaking to others in an attempt to gain support for this bond issue,” Williams said. “We’re extremely pleased with this effort.”
Funds will be used to construct, furnish and equip a new Matthews Elementary school that will include a multipurpose building/safe room and dedicated spaces for art, music and other special classes.
Sikeston R-6 voters also added three new members to represent them on the school board: Kyle Alcorn, Aaron Boyce and Chad Bles. Scott and New Madrid county vote totals were: Boyce, 1,983; Alcorn, 1,969; Bles, 1,704; Stephanie W. Poindexter, 1,175; John Graham, 594; Leechia Wilder, 551; and Onethia T. Williams, 488.
Additional settings for Safari Browser.
