by Patty Cheffey
Palmyra R-I District voters will have the opportunity to vote on improvements and safety issues to the school district during the April 2024 election.
The R-I Board of Education approved pursuing a “No Tax Increase” bond issue for the April 2, 2024 election. The issue will be focused on safety and infrastructure issues throughout the district.
“We are just getting started on this process,” said Superintendent Jason Harper. “We will be hosting a community meeting in which we will form a steering committee made up of parents and community members.”
The board will use the district’s current five-year facilities plan and take input from the community as they prioritize the list of projects.
“Community members can provide input at organized meetings, or find a member of the steering committee, board of education, or administrative team to communicate thoughts and ideas,” Harper said.
The current list of projects on the five-year facilities plan includes creating a safety entrance at the middle school, removal of 22,000 square feet of asbestos tile at Palmyra Elementary, replacement of the original galvanized piping that is deteriorating at the elementary building, upgrading the northeast and south areas of Palmyra High School that have not seen major renovation since construction in 1971 and 1986, and a list of other possible upgrades.
A four-seventh vote will be needed to pass the no tax issue bond, Harper noted.
