Voters in Guilford County, N.C., have approved a $1.7 billion bond referendum that will enable the school district to carry out numerous construction projects.
The Greensboro News and Record reports that the approval could result in a spree of building and renovation in the next decade. The biggest projects planned are rebuilding Page and Southern high schools and creating a new aviation high school in the northwest area of the county.
About 61% of those voting supported the Guilford County district's ballot question.
County commissioners had hoped to persuade voters to approve a sales tax increase to help the county pay for its debt, but that separate ballot measure did not pass,
District and county officials say the money will pay for rebuilding 18 existing schools, renovating 13 existing schools, and constructing three new schools.
The school system also plans to spend over $363 million on safety and technology upgrades at all schools.
A study several years ago of the school district’s facilities rated about 20% of its buildings as excellent, 34% good or fair and 47% as poor or unsatisfactory. The ratings were based mainly on the condition of each school building and how well it is set up for modern education.
