Next Smyrna School District referendum set June 6
After being rebuffed by voters March 9, the Smyrna School District has pared down its ask for taxpayers and will attempt another referendum next week.
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Next Smyrna School District referendum set June 6
By SMYRNA — After being rebuffed by voters March 9, the Smyrna School District has pared down its ask for taxpayers and will attempt another referendum next week.
In a vote June 6, the district is seeking $4.16 million for the local portion of the construction of an intermediate school, across from Sunnyside Elementary School.
The referendum involves that construction project only, while the earlier proposal included an operating expenses component and additional capital requests.
District officials reevaluated their aims after the March denial, superintendent Dr. Susan Brown said.
“The public told us through their vote that they weren’t ready to commit to an operating referendum, as well as a capital referendum, and so, our administration and board of education explored different ideas,” she noted.
A focus on the intermediate school thus emerged.
“The importance of this referendum and why we are asking our community to vote for it is that it will allow the school district to address current overcrowding in classrooms, it will address our vision for realignment for our schools and our grade levels, and it will allow us to provide an outstanding educational opportunity for children,” she added.
The state’s share of the proposed construction would be $13.9 million.
According to the school district, if the referendum succeeds, the average additional cost to a homeowner would be $1.44 monthly for the first year, based on the average property market value of $200,000. Officials equate that to less per month than a cup of coffee.
The cost would decrease slightly over the next four years, before it is paid off.
A town hall about the referendum is set for 6 p.m. June 4 at Clayton Intermediate School.
For information, visit smyrna.k12.de.us/referendum2024 or the district’s Facebook page. Plus, a form to submit questions is available at bit.ly/askssd_ref2024.
Voting will be conducted from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Smyrna Elementary and Smyrna Middle schools, as well as at the Kenton Ruritan Club.
A voter must be 18 or older, live in the Smyrna School District, be a U.S. and Delaware citizen, and show proof of identity and address, such as a driver’s license, state ID or passport.
In March, the roughly $8.6 million capital item was rejected 1,079-874. The approximately $5.5 million operating expense item was defeated 1,129-820.
