Campaign for increased mills

Centreville Public Schools this week kicked off its campaign to promote the district’s November request for 2.95-mills over a 15-year period.

The $12.8 million request, if approved, would allow the district to re-roof and upgrade its elementary and jr./sr. high buildings, update its technology infrastructure and purchase seven new buses over a 12-year period.

A committee calling itself “Our Kids First” has formed and will stage a pair of information sessions in September and two more in October, in advance of the Nov. 5 vote.

Superintendent Rob Kuhlman said the decision to move forward with the request – Centreville’s first since 1999 – was made after a months-long building assessment found about $16 million in needs at both buildings.

The district prioritized the list of needs and trimmed the cost to about $10 million. The additional $2.8 million included in the request would cover the technology and transportation matters.