The Ironton Board of Education took another step last week toward placing a bond issue and tax levy to pay for new schools on the Nov. 8 ballot.

The board approved a resolution, "declaring the necessity of a bond issue and of a tax levy and submitting the question to the elector of the school district."

The resolution calls for the issuance of $18 million in bonds to pay for the local share of the project.

The total cost of the project is $41.4 million. The local share of the project includes $11.2 million in basic costs and another $6.7 million in locally funded initiatives - add-ons such as an auditorium that will be paid for entirely with local monies.

From here, the issue goes to the Lawrence County Auditor's Office, which will certify that all the calculations within the proposed levy are correct. Then the board must accept the auditor's certification.

The bond issue proposal is then handed to the Lawrence County Board of Elections to be placed on the November ballot. By law, the filing deadline to have such an issue placed on the ballot is Aug. 25 - just 75 days prior to the election.

Superintendent Dean Nance said that even with new facilities on everyone's minds, employees have been busy this summer making improvements to school buildings and the curriculum.

"I'm really enthusiastic about the new school year," Nance said. "I want to commend the employees who have worked all year getting buildings ready, new curriculum, getting materials delivered. I feel that in the four years I've been here, we've accomplished more this summer than ever before."

On the list of new items that will greet students this fall is a new playground equipment at Whitwell Elementary.