Voters approved bond referendums at both North Lamar and Prairiland school districts at the polls Saturday, and seated city council members and school trustees across the Red River Valley.
North Lamar ISD voters approved a $51.55 million bond in five propositions to build a new elementary school, make improvements at all campuses, purchase 15 new buses, purchase laptops, iPads and charging carts to allow a 1:1 ratio of student to learning device, improve athletic facilities and build a larger band hall.
âWe appreciate the confidence that our community has in North Lamar ISD,â Superintendent Kelli Stewart said. âThe victory of this election belongs to our students. They are the real winners, and for that we are eternally grateful to the voters that supported this bond.â
As the results come in from the May 1 local and school elections, the results will be posted here.
All of the North Lamar bond propositions passed. The $51.55 million bond measure â the latest of several in the past five years. This time, the bond was broken up into five different propositions, so voters can choose which propositions they would like to move forward with.
Proposition A focuses on aging classrooms and academics, with $43 million for demolishing Higgins Elementary and constructing a new building, renovations and improvement to Stone Middle, Bailey Intermediate and Everett and Parker elementary schools. The measure passed 1,401 for to 721 against.
Paris dentist and 1996 North Lamar graduate Dr. Clint Spencer is in a race May 1 against three other candidates for one of two three-year positions on the North Lamar ISD board of trustees.
Other candidates include Teresa Bussell, Jimmy Fendley and Justin Wideman. The top two vote recipients will be named to positions currently held by Jeff Martin and Kristi Trammell, both of whom chose not to seek re-election.
âI had a positive experience as a student at North Lamar, and I want to serve this community and district in a way that helps our current and future students to have an even better experience than I did, preparing them well for the future,â Spencer said about his motivation to seek a position on the seven-member board.
Paris native and 1988 North Lamar graduate Jimmy Fendley is in a race May 1 against three other candidates for one of two three-year positions on the North Lamar ISD board of trustees.
Other candidates include Teresa Bussell, Dr. Clint Spencer and Justin Wideman. The top two vote recipients will be named to positions currently held by Jeff Martin and Kristi Trammell, both of whom chose not to seek re-election.
âI worked there 17 years and my wife still works there,â said Fendley, who left the district in 2017 to join the business world. âThree kids graduated from there and one is still going there, a seventh grader. Blue and gold runs through my veins.â
Paris native and North Lamar graduate Justin Wideman is in a race May 1 against three other candidates for one of two three-year positions on the North Lamar ISD board of trustees.
Other candidates include Teresa Bussell, Dr. Clay Spencer and Jimmy Fendley. The top two vote recipients will be named to positions currently held by Jeff Martin and Kristi Trammell, both of whom chose not to seek re-election.
âI would like to see the district restored to where we were when I was in school,â Wideman said. âWe have a lot of heritage to build on. Thereâs a lot of good things that have come out of North Lamar, a lot of people who have come from the district who have made a huge impact on this community.â