Taxpayers in the Cato-Meridian Central School District approved some school infrastructure improvements when they went to the polls Tuesday.

By a vote of 178-76, voters authorized a $1.745 million project dealing exclusively in asbestos abatement and reconstruction. There is no taxpayer impact.

“I am very pleased that the voters saw the merits in the project and that they are doing such a good thing for the school district,” Superintendent Deborah Bobo said. “I'm just very happy that they were so positive in the vote.”

Currently there is about 14,500 square feet of asbestos-containing flooring and ceilings in 18 middle school classrooms and 10,500 square feet of asbestos-containing ceilings in the middle school corridor. The presence of asbestos prevents maintenance in and around those areas.

The district received $2.555 million last year in state aid through EXCEL, or Expanding our Children's Education and Learning, which is available to state school districts performing upgrades to technology, accessibility, health and safety, energy efficiency or expansion of instructional space.

The district set aside a small portion of that allotment as a contingency as it installed a security entrance at the elementary/middle school campus, new bathrooms in classrooms, lighting and security cameras. Additionally, bids came in lower than expected, and through that and additional state aid, enough money was saved to do the asbestos abatement without burdening the taxpayer.

Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net