ADAMS — The Southland School Board wants to formulate a new facilities plan that will tentatively go to voters for approval in February, said Superintendent Jeff Sampson.

“Everyone is in agreement that we would move forward,” said Sampson, following a board meeting last week.

Although a new asking price is not known yet, another proposal would have a significantly lower price tag on it than the first, he said.

The board considered recommendations by its project oversight committee suggesting a survey be taken to find out why a $24.5 million bond failed, and to ask for other ideas from district residents.

A public meeting to discuss the issue will be at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 11.

Voters turned down the earlier issue in June. That plan would have incorporated elementary grades into the Adams campus. The elementary school, located at Rose Creek, would have been closed to students.

The board has considered closing the elementary school whether or not another bond is
approved, Sampson added.

“We really need to capture those operational costs,” he said.

Estimates say the district would save $485,000 a year if closed.

Three areas have been identified as being high ticket items whose part in the plan will be closely reviewed:

• One is an additional gym — needed in light of the anticipated closure of the elementary school;

• The moving of the lunch room to create a commons area; and

•The auditorium, which is in sore need of renovation.

All ideas have been only discussion points to date, said Sampson.