Bond Passes: Elkhorn Valley To Build $17.2 Million Facility

By Logan Lawson
[email protected]

With a nearly 64 percent approval from voters, Elkhorn Valley will be building a new $17.2 million facility for grades 7-12.

Nearly two months after the Elkhorn Valley Board of Education proposed the new facility, district voters approved the bond. According to the Madison County Election Commissioner, Tuesday’s unofficial results show 481 votes in favor of the bonds and tax and 272 vote against.

There was a 53 percent voter turnout for the mail-in special election. The canvassing board will convene at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13, to certify the final election results. 

The bond issue was proposed after a year of discussion among the Board of Education regarding changes that were needed at the junior high and high school facilities. With growing enrollment, Elkhorn Valley was running out of space and the buildings are beginning to show their age.

During that year, the board held community meetings to aid in the discussion and it was determined that a $17.2 million addition to the current elementary school was the best option to take for the changes. During these community meetings, straw polls were conducted with the community and the results showed that the addition was the most popular choice. 

Since the announcement of the proposed bond, there have been many discussions among community members. The Building FOR Falcons Committee was formed by citizens of the school district and the group held meetings to inform the public of the reasons behind the bond and what will happen after the results are learned. Elkhorn Valley Superintendent Keith Leckron applauded the committee for their efforts to keep the community well informed. 

"You could see the commitment they made," Leckron stated.

He also was appreciative of the efforts of the Board of Education.

"I commend the Board of Education for putting a lot of work and time into this," he said.

Leckron explained that the board spent many long hours researching all options for the future of the school district and they put in work beyond what a board is usually expected to do.