BCSC plans $900k bond issue for technology purchases

Bartholomew Consolidated Schools are planning to borrow $900 thousand dollars to provide for the technology needs of students and staff next year.

Chad Phillips, the assistant superintendent for financial services, said that the loan is needed because of decreasing revenue from the state due to tax caps.

The district plans to spend just over $586,000 to purchase laptops for next year’s estimated 997 incoming freshmen. The district also plans to purchase 373 devices for teachers and staff at a cost of almost $314,000 dollars. Staff devices will include a mix of desktops, laptops and Chrome books according to district officials.

The bond would be paid off in a single year and Phillips anticipates that the district will have to make similar loans going forward to fund capital projects.

Because of rising assessed property values, taxpayers will not see any impact from the new bond, Phillips estimated.