PULASKI COUNTY – Plans move forward to build a new middle school after Pulaski County voted to approve a $47 million project.
Superintendent Dr. Kevin Siers told 10 News he wasn't surprised that the project passed, but he was surprised at how much it passed by.
“It passed with a 30-percent margin,” Siers said. According to the registrar’s office, 65 percent of voters in Pulaski County voted to finance the bond, despite a hefty tax increase for all county residents that will likely come with the project.
The project is estimated to cost $45.7 million, with an additional $1.3 million added to the bond to insure the project is completed. A total of nine community meetings were held before Election Day to educate the public about the project. Siers said the community was overwhelmingly supportive of the project early on in the process.
"I believe it shows that citizens place a strong value in ensuring that our kids are educated in a safe and pleasant educational environment,” Siers said
The school board will enter a purchase agreement for the property owned by Pulaski Farm Property LLC who’s co-owner is David Hagan, owner of Shelor Motor Mile in Christiansburg.
The goal is to open the school in the fall of 2020.