DUNCAN — Duncan Public Schools has been working on a bond issue to build a three-building elementary campus and to make major renovations to Duncan High School. During a town meeting Monday, this bond issue became a highly debated item.

There will be another meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Duncan Middle School library.

The first meeting took place at DMS, which was a reflection of a 1998 bond issue and master plan. The school opened in 2001.

The concept of a 2009 bond issue is aimed at addressing deteriorating buildings, many of which are 50 years old and older, and finding ways to prepare students to compete in a global market.

Superintendent Sherry Labyer and Board of Education member Eric Davis opened the meeting with a presentation, and several teachers spoke about the benefits the bond issue would have on education and other aspects in Duncan.

Duncan High School health teacher Linda White said the facility would show the students they’re worthwhile.

“I think it helps their self-esteem,” White said. “I think we’re forgetting what’s really important here. Our main concern is our children.

“All of that is what keeps students in school. We’re so blessed in Duncan.”

Linda Thompson, Woodrow Wilson second-grade teacher, and Lisa Lawrence, Plato Elementary fourth-grade teacher, said they would see an array of areas where an elementary campus would be beneficial.

Thompson said bringing students together shows the students that they are all on the same level.

She said an elementary campus is something that could renew students’ interests in learning. She said small things, like painting, is something that gives a slight boost for students to learn.

“I can only imagine what it would be like for them to go to a state-of-the-art school,” Thompson said.

Lawrence, who served on the 20/20 Vision Team to create the master plan on which the bond issue is based, said some programs, including Title I, are available only at specific elementary schools in the district. By having all the students together, some would have access to the necessary programs that they don’t currently have access to.

“We have students that struggle with reading, but we don’t have Title I available to us,” Lawrence said. “This would be able to help those students.”

For those opposed to the bond issue, money was a major factor. If the bond issue passes in an election, it would raise property taxes by roughly 10 percent.

They wondered if building an elementary campus in the center of Duncan was necessary or if it would be better to just renovate the current buildings.

Mark Twain Principal JoAnn Pierce said many of the buildings are falling apart, which is why action needs to be taken.

Those against a bond issue asked if now was the right time for a bond issue, especially because of the severity of the recession.

Duncan Board of Education President Chris Deal said getting the bond issue passed, and the schools built, by August 2011 would save the school district money because there are issues needing to be addressed at the elementary schools, including safety at Woodrow Wilson.

Deal said the cost of construction has also gone down in the past six months. He also said new buildings will have to be constructed eventually, but an increasing rate of inflation will cause those projects to be more costly in the future.

“You’re still going to have to spend millions on Woodrow, millions on Horace Mann, millions on the high school,” Deal said. “If not now, when would be the time? Economic times are never good.

“We have to have confidence in ourselves. Duncan is an important community. There’s a lot more to this than shiny buildings.”