Piedmont Schools Bond Up For Vote Next Week

District officials said growth is one of the biggest factors facing Piedmont Schools. A bond worth nearly $72 million that would help alleviate those challenges is up for a vote on August 23.

One look inside the halls of Piedmont High between classes and it's easy to see the school is at capacity.

“We’re getting very limited on space to put all these kids and have adequate classroom space,” said Dr. James White, Superintendent.

The bond could mean a 3.9 percent increase for taxpayers. Among the projects for the high school are additional classrooms, safe rooms and science labs. Outside, they're planning new baseball and softball fields, turf and track for football and soccer fields and an indoor athletic facility.

Dr. White said Piedmont Elementary would get a new cafeteria and gym.

“That gym will be a storm shelter that will also be able to be used as a community storm shelter after hours,” he added.

This year the district saw its highest pre-k enrollment numbers, and for the first time, some even had to be turned away because there wasn't room. The bond would foot the bill for a new early childhood center with 36 classrooms for pre-k and kindergarten all on one site, freeing up space in other schools.

Portable classrooms are on the Northwood Elementary property. The bond would add six more real classrooms to that school - the space White says the district's students deserve.

District-wide the bond would also pay for new buses and replace air conditioners, among other projects.