GARNETT — A community forum concerning the proposed $14.5 million bond issue for USD 365 school facility improvements will be tonight at 7:30 at the Ray Meyer Gym at Garnett Elementary Center. A special school board meeting will at the first of the community forum. Another community forum will be Monday night at 7 at Westphalia School. The Anderson County Review reported that the school district has used community forums to guide the direction of a new facilities plan. Mike Burns, co-chair of Future of Anderson County Education, told the Review that the upcoming forums provide an opportunity for people to talk to school board members and and for both the public and the board to get information about the proposal, which includes replacing GEC and improvements at schools at Greeley, Mont Ida and Westphalia; and entrance changes at Anderson County High School. Replacing GEC is the centerpiece of the proposal, Burns said. There hasn’t been any organized opposition but the Review noted that there have been few bond issues approved. Burns said he’s heard mostly positives about the proposal. He said he’s been questioned by some voters why the proposal doesn’t combine all elementary schools into a central location in Garnett. “Those schools aren’t eating up the repair and maintenance costs like GEC is,” Gurns said. “GEC has the most students and the most ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) issues.” Many people haven’t toured GEC in recent years, and don’t know the extent of problems in the building, Burns said. Tonight’s forum will offer tours of GEC, he said.
Tuesday, Oct. 12, 10 a.m.
