Things are looking up for the Texarkana, Ark., School District.
Voters went to the polls on Tuesday and approved restructuring bonds, extending the due date and raising $15.6 million for the construction of a new middle school.
And Arkansas-side residents gave their OK by an impressive margin. The results were 1,111 in favor with only 281 opposed.
Superintendent Becky Kessler was pleased.
"We're very appreciative of all the voters who came out to support us, and we can't say how thankful we are at the support we've received," she said.
Over the years, Texarkana, Ark., voters have acquired a reputation as being somewhat less generous with their schools than their neighbors across the state line. A couple of major bond proposals have been voted down. But the restructuring of these bonds will not increase taxes. Instead it extends the due date by 30 years and allows the district to draw money for new uses.
The $15.6 million from the bonds will be combined with $6 million in state partnership funds and construction on the new middle school should get under way by this time next year.
The school will house sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students. Another grant-$14.7 million in U.S. Department of Education dollars-will help the middle school extend its science, technology, engineering and math programs. The new middle school will be something Arkansas-side residents can be proud of. They can be proud as well of the overwhelmingly favorable vote that made it possible.
This was a win for TASD, a win for the taxpayers and, especially, a win for the students.