Two multimillion dollar bond issues to improve school district technology and upgrade outmoded facilities are essential if Lawrence schools are going to keep up with education needs, bond supporters said Tuesday night.

“If we do not make these investments … we cannot ratchet up to the next level of teaching and learning,” said Rich Minder, a Lawrence school board member who was one of a panel of speakers at a school bond forum in the Lawrence High School commons area.

About 20 people attended the forum to learn about the bond issues. If approved, a $54 million bond issue would allow for improvements at seven schools and the construction of a new South Junior High School. The second bond issue would allow for $8.9 million to be spent on technology.

The bond issues come two years after a $59 million bond issue was defeated. That issue was controversial because it came at a time when the district made an unpopular decision to close Centennial and East Heights schools.

James Hilliard, who took part in the panel as a supporter of this year’s bond issues, noted that he opposed the proposal two years ago. He said he didn’t believe the 2003 bond issue proposal would have accomplished what the district expected.

“I think this bond issue is pretty straightforward at what it can do,” said Hilliard, a former school board member.

Passage of the bond issue would mean $3.23 per month would be added to the tax cost of a $150,000 house, district Supt. Randy Weseman said.

The smaller, technology bond issuance would be paid off in less than eight years, said Marty Kennedy, co-chairman of Vote Yes for Lawrence Kids.

The forum was sponsored by the Voter Education Coalition. It was taped and will be broadcast later this month on Sunflower Broadband.

After the bond issue forum, three candidates for the school board took part in a forum before about a dozen people. The candidates, incumbent Linda Robinson and newcomers John Mitchell and Craig Grant, are now the only candidates for three openings on the seven-member board. A fourth candidate, David Holroyd, dropped out, although his name will still be on the April 5 general election ballot.

All three of the candidates expressed concern about continuing budget difficulties in the district and the Kansas Legislature’s inability to pass adequate funding bills. They noted that other major school districts in Johnson County and other Kansas City suburbs were paying teachers more than Lawrence.