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FARMINGTON — The Davis School District is asking voters to approve a $475 million bond for new schools and improvements during next week's election.
Other bonds are now being paid off so the district said an approved bond won't cause tax rates to increase. Combine that with new homes and businesses that are paying into the broader tax base, homeowners won't see an increase as long as values remain high.
Sunset Junior High is one of the schools that needs the help right now.
"It would be nice to have a more modern building where we can have kids come and they can use technology ... have enough plugs to plug things in," Principal Tami Oliver said.
The building is nearly 60 years old and it shows in some places.
Eighth-grader Emma Willis said, "The doors. There's the old bricks, the long, narrow hallways."
And it not just the appearance.
"There's not as much outlets, the air conditioning is not the best," said student Mayan Gongora.
They say it can be a bit cramped.
Willis said, "There's no room in the classrooms so the teachers move all of their stuff out to the hallway to make it bigger. But that ends up being like super-crowded."
That's why under the Davis School District's proposal, Sunset Junior would be rebuilt as well as Bountiful Elementary.
Issues of growth
The district is contending with some growth issues as well.
"The northwest portion of the county is really booming," Chris Williams, spokesperson for the district said. He added there are plans for a new junior high school and elementary school in that area.
"We could put portables on, but portables can't solve all the problems that we'd have and so that's why we're still looking at building new buildings."
A number of schools would also get upgraded air conditioning, new windows, and a gymnasium.
If the bond doesn't pass homeowners could see a tax rate decrease of about $22 a month within seven years from now.
