Published: December 10, 2008 11:26 pm      

Jasper county to vote on school bond

jjacob@themeridianstar.com



Residents of the East Jasper School district will vote on a $10 million school bond issue Tuesday, Jasper County Circuit Clerk Billy G. Rayner said.

There are 11 precincts and 5,317 registered voters in the school district. This is a small portion of Jasper County, which has 19 precincts and more than 13,000 registered voters total.

The bond issue must be voted for by a three-fifths majority, or 60 percent, in order to pass, Rayner said. The school district includes William J. Berry Elementary, Heidelberg Jr. High, and Heidelberg High.

According to the school district Web site, the bond would be used to build a new elementary school, and to renovate, repair, and make additions to the junior high and high schools. Supporters of the bond issue in the district believe that the improvements will help employee morale and student achievement, help recruit more certified teachers, attract business, and improve the overall quality of education.

For a district resident owning a home valued at $50,000 and a car valued at $10,000, the bond issue will cost $95.99 per year, or $8 per month.

The precincts where voting will take place are: Holders, Waldrup, Clayburn, Fellowship, Heidelberg, Midway, Moss 1st, Paulding, Philadelphia, Rose Hill, and Vossburg, Rayner said. The bond issue will be the only thing on the ballot.





Bond issue polling places



These are the polling places where East Jasper School District residents will vote on a school bond issue Tuesday, Dec. 16. (Source, East Jasper School District website):

• Oak Bowery Fire Department, Heidelberg

• Hal Fire Department, Bay Springs

• Moss Fire Department 1st District, Laurel*

• Paulding Firehouse, Paulding

• Community Building, Hickory*

• Northeast Fire Department, Newton*

• Nutrition Center, Rose Hill

• Vossburg Precinct Building, Vossburg

• Heidelbert Multipurpose Building HB, Heidelberg

• Beat 5 Office Building, Heidelberg

• Heidelberg Multipurpose Building Phila, Heidelberg.



*Though some of the polling places have mailing addresses in Newton and Jones counties, Jasper County Circuit Clerk Billy G. Rayner said all the precincts are in Jasper County.