STRAFFORD, Mo. -- "It's a $15 million bond for the kids and no tax increases." said Stacey Venosdel, who has two kids in the Strafford School District.
Venosdel supports the bond because it is just a continuation of the current tax. School administrators say it is needed to improve security. Strafford residents will vote on the bond in April.
"All of the buildings are going to be updated to where, when you do come in those set of doors, there will be windows and you will need to check in with the secretary." said Marcy Easterly, a spokeswoman for the Strafford School District.
The secretary would then unlock one of the doors and let visitors in. Right now, the main entrance only has one set of doors in front of the secretary's office. During school hours, the doors are unlocked.
Another problem is overcrowding. Strafford hasn't seen large growth but student population has increased by 2 - 3 percent each year. School leaders plan to build a new elementary school near the current elementary school.
"The new elementary is the area we have the most growth and it's the most needed, so it will benefit all of the campus. By building the new school, it opens up space for everyone." said Easterly.
Strafford taxpayers have a history of passing school bonds. Venosdel says she has only heard one concern from residents about the proposed school.
"Basically just the congestion where the schools are located now. The new school will be pretty close to the current buildings and they are worried about the flow of traffic." said Venosdel. Her business, FitFusion Studio, is near the schools but she isn't worried about traffic.
Additional parking lots would be created and buses would pick up and drop off students at the front of the building instead of the back, as it is right now. None of the money would be used to hire teachers or purchase new classroom material.
