93.9 The Eagle – The News and Talk of Columbia, MO
Voters in Columbia Public Schools (CPS) are casting ballots today on an $80-million bond issue, which would fund construction of a new $25-million elementary school in south Columbia.
CPS Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood tells 939 the Eagle that the district works with demographers, and says the new elementary would be located on the John Warner middle school property. Dr. Yearwood notes the new “Legacy Farms” project will include 495 new homes near Sinclair and Nifong.
The bond money would also provide $2-million for safety and security enhancements at CPS, including construction of additional secure vestibule single points of entry for buildings that don’t currently have them.
Superintendent Yearwood says growth is the primary reason behind today’s bond issue. Today’s $80-million bond issue would also provide $28-million for land and a new elementary school in the future location.
Fast-growing CPS is now Missouri’s fifth-largest district, with about 18,500 students. Dr. Yearwood tells 939 the Eagle that he expects that to grow to about 20,000 in the next decade.
CPS enrollment has increased by more than 15-hundred in the past decade.
Passage of the bond issue requires a four-sevenths majority, which is 57 percent.
