• A new 5-8 middle school on 80 acres the district owns about a mile south of the existing high school.

• Remodeling and an addition to the existing elementary school to convert it to a K-4 school.

• Remodeling and revamping the high school and junior high into a 9-12 high school.

Richard Erickson, Tonganoxie school superintendent, applauded the work of the band of volunteers who helped ensure the bond issue passed. For several years, Erickson and others have laid the groundwork for a successful bond election.

“Our bond committee was just incredible,” he said.

The bond committee, along with other people who called district patrons to tout the benefits of the bond issue, worked tirelessly, said Erickson.

He believes the new school, along with work at existing schools, will have far-reaching effects.

“It also will be beneficial to our community,” he said. “As our (election) motto said: Our kids. Our community. Our future.”

Now that nearly 59 percent of those voting Tuesday approved the bond issue, an architectural firm hired on a contingency basis to lead the school through construction will begin work on designing the new school and changes to the existing schools.

Before the vote, officials with the firm said it’s possible that as early as December, schematic designs for the grade school and high school may be ready to present to the school board. The design for the middle school may take a month or two longer, they said.

The goal is to have all construction completed by summer 2007 — and maybe as early as the holiday break of the 2006-2007 school year.