By Tom Weber, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – People in the Edwardsville School District can expect to see work starting this summer on two new school buildings, after voters approved a $58 million bond issue on Tuesday.
Superintendent Ed Hightower says this year's effort was more attractive than a ballot question that failed last year because this year's vote will not require a tax increase. "Certainly everyone knew that we have a need, but more importantly we had a plan for financing this need," Hightower said, in an interview.
Hightower says the district recently refinanced old debt, which created savings that staved off a need for a tax hike.
The two new buildings will be elementary schools, while other existing buildings will be expanded and renovated.
Hightower also says the district probably won't have to go back to voters for more building needs for at least five years.