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September 8, 2009

Hennessey voters OK bond, issue voted down at Timberlake

By Kevin Hassler, Associate Editor

Voters in the Hennessey Public Schools district ap-proved Tuesday a $2.9 million bond issue that will fund updated facilities.

Mean-while, patrons in the Tim-berlake Public Schools district resoundingly de-feated a $9 million bond issue that would have paid for a new high school and junior high complex to be built nine miles north of Helena.

The vote in Hennessey was 412-204, or 66.9 percent, in favor. The Timberlake vote was 630 against and 81 in favor, meaning 88.6 percent of those casting ballots rejected the proposal. School bond issues require a 60 percent approval to pass.

“We’re very excited,” said Hennessey Superintendent Joe McCulley. “We’re ready to get everything together and get some bids out.”

The Hennessey bond issue will fund:

• Two new science classrooms with labs.

• A new library/media center.

• A new roof on the high school.

• New heating and air conditioning system at the high school.

• Replacement of carpet with new green flooring at elementary, junior high and high schools.

• Remodeling of the cafeteria and kitchen, creating more space and seating.

• A concession sales area for ball games.

• Early childhood playground equipment.

McCulley said the district has some money in its building fund that will be combined with the bond issue money so the district “really can get some things done.”

Hennessey currently does not have any early childhood playground equipment, and ball game concessions are set up in a make-shift manner in the school’s lobby, he said. The other renovations stem from expanding technological needs and the age of the facilities.

The plan at Timberlake had been to begin the process of consolidating all of the district’s schools at one site, Superintendent Brent Rousey said previously.

The junior and senior high schools are in Helena, while the elementary school is in Jet. The district also includes Goltry and Nash.

Rousey said previously he understood concerns many Helena residents had about losing the junior and senior high schools, but said given the size of the district — with an enrollment of about 250 — moving all schools to one site would be more fiscally efficient.

He said any leftover money would have been used for ball fields and an ag barn.

Rousey could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.



Staff writer Bridget Nash contributed to this story.

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