Voters reject millage increase for Bryant School District

BRYANT — Voters in the Bryant School District narrowly rejected a 4.9-millage increase Tuesday for academic projects to accommodate the increasing growth in the district’s student population.

Complete but unofficial results are 2,635 for and 2,643 against the millage increase. According to information from the Saline County Clerk’s office found on the Saline County website, salinecounty.org, there are 30,380 registered voters in the Bryant School District.

“It’s never easy to ask for a tax increase, but with our unprecedented growth, the board and administration felt that we had to ask the voters to help fund new facilities for our students,” said Tom Kimbrell, Bryant superintendent.

Kimbrell said the district enrolls an average of 300 new students each year and is projected to add 3,000 students over the next 10 years. He said current facilities are not adequate or suitable to accommodate the district’s current and future growth.

“We are disappointed in the results of the election, but we are very proud of the parents, students, teachers, community members and businesses who supported it,” Kimbrell said. “I believe the Bryant community values students and their education. Unfortunately, this wasn’t expressed at the polls.”

Kimbrell said that with two failed millage elections, school-district officials are now expected to meet with state officials to determine the next steps in providing adequate and suitable facilities to accommodate growth in the district. He said planning will include how to house new students, how much it will cost and how to fund those costs over the next two years.

“We are thankful for each and every individual who worked to get the word out and voted to approve the millage,” Kimbrell said. “We appreciate their investment in our children, in their future.”

Kimbrell said that if the proposal had passed, the Bryant School District planned to build a new elementary and middle school, add a cafeteria to the high school and make security updates throughout the district. He said the measure would have also funded a conversion of Bryant Middle School to a junior high school, plus construction of an arena and performing-arts facility.