Engadine Consolidated Schools will ask voters during the August 3 primary election to approve a bond of $525,000 to be used to purchase buses, technology, and equipment. The bond would be paid with 0.16 mill levied against property. The bond is expected to be paid off in 2017.

Currently, 2.3 mills have been levied for 1995 bonds, which has been decreased as payments have been made. The 1995 bond is currently at 1.3 mills, and is estimated it can be reduced by 0.16 mill, said Superintendent Angie McArthur. The 1995 bond should be paid off by 2015.

“Basically, this pushes the debt out for two more years,” Mrs. McArthur said.

Two buses would be purchased, costing about $160,000 total. Two buses were last purchased with a bus bond in 2006 and have been driven nearly 100,000 miles.

The school replaces about two laptops each year, but has been unable to keep up with the need for classroom equipment, she said. About 215 netbook, or small laptop, computers would be purchased for $129,000, and 55 lab chairs for students and staff could be bought for $8,975. Computer workstations, 53 total, would be replaced for $31,800. The school's telephone and voice mail system would be replaced for $30,000, and other items such as projectors, operating system software, and carts for storage and recharging would be bought.

The ballot language states the bond will also be used for remodeling work, which refers to a computer network upgrade costing $28,495 that includes wiring.

If the millage passes, buses would likely be the first purchase, Mrs. McArthur said, and the school would look at purchasing classroom equipment like workstations and classroom projectors next.