Johnston Board Set to OK Special Election for Sept. 11

Johnston residents should be ready to hit the polls on Sept. 11.

The Johnston school board is expected to approve tonight a resolution to call for a special election on a $51 million bond issue.

The election will ask residents if they support the issuing bonds not to exceed $51 million to build, furnish and equip a new high school building. The measure must be approved by 60 percent of the voters

On June 11, the after a lengthy discussion. Since then the district was tasked with collecting in order to call the special election.

The special election will cover only a portion of the entire $122.3 million project, which includes repurposing the current high school, middle school and Wallace Elementary. The majority of the project cost will be paid for through PPEL and sales tax revenue.

Other board items include:

• The approval of a contact with Control Installations of Iowa, Inc. for the purchase of hardware, software, installation and training of video taping board meetings.
• A public hearing and approval of a bid from DDVI to complete classroom addition to Timber Ridge Elementary in the amount of $1.08 million.
• Approval of a contact with DDVI to complete a Middle School classroom project for the cost of $185,400. The bid was awarded at the May 21 board meeting.

The Johnston school board meets at 6 p.m. at the Administrative Resource Center.