KELLY VOTERS TO DECIDE ON BOND ISSUE

BENTON -- Like so many schools in the region, the Kelly School District is in need of renovations. On Tuesday voters have an opportunity to pass a bond measure to appropriate the needed money without a tax increase.

The district is asking for voters' approval of a $1.2 million bond issue to renovate the existing gymnasium and home economics classroom; construction of four new classrooms, science labs and elementary library; and repairs and renovation to make the entire school air conditioned.

In addition, a refrigeration unit in the cafeteria would be replaced.

"Right now, they can't have physical education classes during lunch time because students are eating lunch in the gymnasium," said John Felter, Kelly School board member. "We're running out of room for our kids."

Felter said that the gymnasium is in desperate need of renovations. The bleachers and the floor which are part of the original, 35-year-old building have to be replaced regardless of whether or not the bond issue passes, he said.

Renovations will also take place in the home economics classes. A wall will be removed to make more room for the classes, Felter said.

An addition to the school will house the elementary library, allowing the current library to be converted to a lunch room. It will also house a junior high science lab and high school language arts, which will be moved for the home economics expansion.

"We're also going to reinstate the industrial arts program in the high school," Felter said. "We hired a teacher for that, and may have to hire one or two more within the next couple of years.

"It's really hard to tell what's going to be needed on down the road," he said.

Despite some misconceptions about the bond issue, all of the work is planned without a tax increase, Felter said. To compensate, the existing debt service levy due to expire in 1997 will be extended to 2012.

In planning the bond measure, the district worked to determine construction and renovations that would be needed to accommodate the district's growth over the next 15 to 20 years.

The district has grown significantly over the past few years, and an additional 40 to 50 students are expected to enroll in the Kelly School District by the 1995-96 school year, Felter said.

Another pressure the school board faces is a state mandate to reduce classroom sizes in the elementary grades by 1995-96 school year, indicating the district will need to hire additional teachers in the elementary school and have the class space to house them, Felter said.

"We have to get in compliance with the state law," Felter said. "The way we're growing, that's going to mean more teachers and more class space."

If the measure passes, the board will immediately call for bids on the projects.

"If all goes well, we could get started at the beginning of June when classes let out, and hopefully be done before they come back in the fall," Felter said. "This is really a good time for this for everyone concerned."