The patrons of the Bayard school district have passed a three million dollar bond issue that will provide improvements to the elementary and high school buildings in that community. The unofficial final vote was 379 in favor and 233 against. Michelle Coolidge, a member of the patron committee who promoted the bond issue, said the vote shows the commitment of Bayard voters to the community and it's young people.

The money will construct four new rooms at the elementary school to replace modulars that have been used for over 25 years to house kindergarten students and those with special needs. One of the rooms will also be used for a computer lab. The bond issue will also provide funding to replace the high school's 50 year old gymnasium.

$500,000 donated from a Bayard patron's trust fund for improvements to the community's schools is helping lower the requested amount in the bond issue. A property owner with a $50,000 home would see a property tax hike of $87.Construction is slated to begin in the fall of this year and be complete by November of 2009.