Candace BarnetteOn March 18, residents of the Ocean Springs School District (OSSD) overwhelmingly approved a $52 million bond to enhance educational facilities.
The bond, which secured 87% of the vote, will fund infrastructure upgrades across all facilities at elementary and middle school campuses.
Key Projects Funded by the Bond:
- Construction of a New Middle School: A state-of-the-art facility will be built on the existing Ocean Springs Upper Elementary campus, housing 7th and 8th-grade students.
- Elementary School Enhancements: The district will expand current elementary schools to accommodate a transition to a Kindergarten through 4th-grade structure, adding necessary classrooms and making critical infrastructure upgrades.
- Renovation of the Current Middle School: The existing middle school campus will be converted into a 5th and 6th-grade center, providing dedicated spaces for these grade levels.
- District-Wide Infrastructure Improvements: All elementary and middle school campuses will receive essential upgrades, including HVAC system enhancements to ensure comfortable learning environments.
The bond will not result in a tax increase, as the new bonds will replace the district’s retiring bonds.
Superintendent Michael Lindsey thanked the community for their support in this referendum, saying the bond will allow students and staff to perform at their highest level of learning.
“This bond is not only an investment in our district infrastructure and buildings, but also an investment in our students and the future of our community,” Lindsey said.
OSSD will now begin planning and coordination with an architect and will continue to involve the community going forward. Officials have more information on the bond and plan to release an updated timeline here.
Photo by Arthur Krijgsman
