Ankeny School Board Sets Date for $15.9 Million Bond Referendum

A referendum to finance the Ankeny School District's tenth elementary school will go before voters in just over two months.

The Ankeny school board approved a resolution at its regular meeting Monday night to hold a special election on Feb. 5, 2013. The election will give district residents a chance to vote on a $15.9 million referendum to finance the district's tenth elementary.

In the coming weeks, the district will hold several public meetings in an effort to educate residents about the referendum and the district's need for a tenth elementary school.

The forums will be held on Dec. 11 and on Jan. 10 and 22 at 7 p.m. at East Elementary School.

The special election will mark nearly a year since the district began talks of building a new elementary school. Discussion began in March and the board initially planned to pursue a special election in September.

In August, the board made the decision to push back the referendum, citing a need to re-evaluate district finances. Changes in district leadership also prompted school board members to delay the bond referendum.

Come Election Day, 60 percent of those who vote must do so in favor of the referendum in order for it to pass.