On March 5, Durant ISD will be holding a special election to renew a five-year, $5,860,000 bond benefiting all Durant schools.

Durant Superintendent Jason Simeroth said that they will not be raising any current taxes by renewing the bond. He said that the bond would simply be keeping current taxes in place.

Simeroth said he is unsure how much current taxes would decrease should the bond not pass. He said because of the length of time the taxes have been in place to aid school bonds, it is hard to know what property taxes were without the bond.

According to Simeroth, bonds go to pay for things that schools cannot pay out of general funds.

The bond will pay for such items as new classrooms in Washington Irving and Northwest Heights Elementary Schools, playground renovations, security updates at all Durant schools, building maintenance, new activity and route buses and a new multipurpose facility.

Simeroth and Curtis Armor, head of the Durant Education Foundation, said that the multipurpose facility is something that the Durant community has been asking for.

The facility will cost $1.5 million and accommodate students for activities such as cheerleading, tennis, band and other student activities.

Simeroth said the facility may also be used for summer camps for children in the community. The facility will also address the lack of dressing rooms for girls sports currently affecting the school.

Armor said it is important to pass such bonds because Durant holds its students to high standards.

He said that if the community and school want the students to reach their full potential, the school must reach its full potential as well.

“It’s because of the support of our community that the school is where it’s at,” said Armor.

Simeroth said the Durant Education Foundation (DEF) will be handling all public notification of the bond election.

The organization is a public interest group that will try to create an avenue for Durant schools and the Durant community to have dialogue.

Armor said that unlike similar groups in the past, DEF will be chartered correctly and meet regularly to discuss school issues.

While Simeroth said he has already been meeting with several groups and community members about the bond issue, February will be the time spent to inform the public.

For more information about the bond issue, contact DEF at durantfoundation@gmail.com or visit Durant Schools on Facebook.com.