MORGAN -- Although $4 million in federal funding is coming Morgan County School District's way, administrators have waited for a new superintendent to weigh in on how to spend it.
Based on a recent application, however, officials plan to fund construction of a new physical education facility or bus garage.
The district was recently approved for $4 million in low- interest bonds supported by the Federal Qualified School Construction Bond. The board's participation so far does not bind the district to accept the bonds, which would carry a rate of less than 1.5 percent.
"It is stimulus money to get people working," Business Administrator D'Lynn Poll said in a May board meeting.
The board is expected to discuss some options at its July meeting now that Kenneth Adams has been named as superintendent.
So far, plans for the bonds include expanding the physical education/athletic facilities at Morgan High School and constructing a new district bus maintenance and parking facility. The district already has been searching for a 3- to 4-acre site for a new bus garage.
The board is very interested in Bear River High School's athletic facility and plans to tour it in July. Bear River's athletic gym includes a two-lane track around the outside perimeter and artificial turf inside for football. Facilities also are available for soccer, golf, basketball and volleyball.
The board also is considering constructing a standalone competition gym, as well as retrofitting the current auditorium into a new practice gym and building a new auditorium. The current auditorium has seating for 795, while the district would like an auditorium with a seating capacity of 1,100.
"We all know we need a bigger place to meet for plays and graduation," said board Chairman Joey Skinner. "The community needs a bigger place to meet."
According to a statement prepared by outgoing Superintendent Ron Wolff, if the board decides to take advantage of the bonds, the debt would be repaid out of capital funds and would not require a bond levy. If the board does take advantage of the bonds, it would have until September 2011 to issue the bonds or turn down the opportunity.
However, if accepted, the district would have 36 months to complete any construction projects the bonds finance. The district would begin making payments on the bonds once the projects' construction was completed.
"Once we're approved, we don't have to take it," Poll said. "We can take part or all."
Although much discussion focused on a new physical education facility, board member Bruce Galbraith said a bus garage is his No. 1 priority.
"The bus garage only continues to be a nightmare to us," Galbraith said. "I would like to see the bus garage taken care of. The rest is futuristic."
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