JACKSON JUNIOR HIGH PROJECT DIRELY NEEDED

For the third time this year, Jackson School District voters will be asked Nov. 7 to approve a 10-cent levy to finance a $6 million bond issue to expand R.O. Hawkins Junior High School.

Twice voters have rejected the proposal along with other funding proposals that would have also increased property taxes.

This time only the bond issue proposal will appear on the ballot. A four-sevenths majority, just over 57 percent, is required for passage, which would lead to construction of a 20-classroom addition to the junior high school.

Until this year, school district voters had signed off on six of seven funding proposals over 16 years. The only other failure was in 1992.

The district finds itself in the midst of significant enrollment growth, which means even more overcrowding. With the latest proposal, voters have an opportunity to address the junior-high expansion issue.