The Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District board has unanimously approved a $16 million bond issue, about $10 million of which will be used to build a sixth- and seventh-grade "partnership school" on Mississippi State University's campus. The Mississippi Legislature is providing another $10 million, and MSU has pledged the remaining $10 million needed, including $5 million in land.
The remaining $6 million in bond funds may be used for other school district projects.
The local bond issue is not expected to raise taxes above current levels; a 2.9 mill levy was expected to come off school debt obligations later this year, but now is expected to continue in order to pay for the new school.
Classes are scheduled to begin there in fall 2018.