Burlington's Board of Education shared plans for a $10.5M bond issue with their taxpaying patrons at a public meeting Jan. 28 in the existing gymnasium that was reportedly built in 1947. The bond issue proposes building a new gym; relocating the cafeteria into the “Little Gym,” building a greenhouse for the FFA's horticulture program, and relocating the third- and fourth-grade classrooms out of the portable buildings and into the existing locker rooms.

The following Tuesday evening, Feb. 1, the board held a special meeting to vote on measures that will put the bond issue in motion. President Graham called the meeting to order with four members present including: Robert Hill, April Kisling, Aaron Smith and T.J. Rockenbach. Superintendent Brown, HS Principal Gerrett Spears and Minutes Clerk Tracy Granados were also present.

The only guest present was Matt Reichert on behalf of Stephen H. McDonald & Associates, based in Norman and provides financial services for schools, including GO bonds. Reichert discussed the proposed bond with the board and read a proposed resolution for the bond to be used on the ballot for the April 5 special election. The group discussed the issue, then the board approved the final resolution with amendments as agreed.

The board unanimously approved separate resolutions that authorize and call for holding of a special election to be held in the Burlington School District. This authorizes the issuance of general obligation (GO) bonds.

Board members discussed the two presentations of the two potential architects at the Jan. 19 regular meeting. The board voted to hire Easley Associates Architects, an architectural firm based out of Enid. The architect's contract is to be reviewed by legal counsel prior to entering into a formal agreement with the architectural firm.

418 Registered Voters in Burlington School District

In an interview with the Newsgram a few days after the public meeting, Superintendent Brown said, “I haven't heard any negative – I'm sure there are some opposed to it. I guess that April 5 the public will tell us how they feel.”

According to the Alfalfa County Election Board Secretary Kelly Stein, there are 418 voters in the Burlington Public School District. A question asked at the public meeting was what percent of Burlington voters have to vote “yes” for the bond issue to pass. The answer was 60 percent.

When asked about the estimated cost of a special school election Stein said it really hinges on how two elections go today involving Cherokee and Timberlake.

If those two entities have an election April 5, Stein said “a rough, estimated cost would be $950, split among the three.”

Brown said the board's next step is to hire a general contractor or construction manager.“We'll look at pros and cons and decide,” he said.