By Malcolm Butler and Kyle Roberts
While the Ruston School District millage was being soundly defeated Saturday, the Simsboro School District millage passed by a narrow vote of 155-139 (53 percent to 47 percent).
Only 12 percent (294 out of 2,531 according to the Secretary of State website) voted on the bond.
The vote was to renew an already existing 5.95 millage (set to expire Dec. 31, 2023) with an additional increase of 5.55 percent. The 11.5 percent millage over 20 years will generate $10 million that will be used solely for capital improvements to the high school and elementary school.
“I think this will bring some really good improvements for the ag program,” said Lincoln Parish School Board Superintendent Ricky Durrett. “Some new classrooms, new science labs, some things at the baseball field, lights in the gym … I think it’s just overall good thing for the school and the community. The facilities needed to be updated to keep it a viable option for families and kids to attend.”
The Lincoln Parish Journal was unable to reach Simsboro High School principal Lacey Holcomb for comment.
Durrett said the tentative timeline for the start of the projects would be by the end of this calendar year and would take two years to complete all the projects.
Below is a breakdown of the $10 million which are preliminary costs and inclusive of fees for professional services.
Simsboro School ($10,000,000)
$5,737,800 — New addition of classrooms, Ag-Science shop, restrooms
$2,885,400 — Gym renovations and lobby additions
$489,300 — Parking, driveways, drainage, dirt work, landscaping
$682,500 — Replace lighting on baseball and softball fields
$105,000 — New pre-K playground
$100,000 — Replace auditorium seating
