BUCHANAN — Voters in Buchanan will have to decide whether or not they want to fund what many believe are necessary improvements to a few schools in the Buchanan Community Schools district.

The Buchanan Board of Education Monday night voted unanimously to approve the language of a $19.5 million bond that will now be placed on the ballot of a Feb. 28 special election.

Supt. Andrea van der Laan said Monday that the bond would cost a taxpayer with a $100,000 home $5.71 a month. A person with a $200,000 home would pay about $10.80 a month.

Van der Laan reiterated that the district used a lot of community feedback when coming up with the scope of the bond. The district surveyed 250 people, about half of who had school-aged children in the community, on what they wanted the bond to accomplish.

Most indicated the middle school needed the most work. Many also indicated the cost of the bond would affect their decision. Voters rejected a $31 million bond in May.

The $19.5 million bond would pay for $10.6 million worth of improvements to the middle school, $7.7 million worth of improvements to Ottawa Elementary, $800,000 worth of improvements to the high school and $400,000 worth of improvements to Moccasin Elementary.

Van der Laan said they are working on a PowerPoint presentation that would highlight in great detail all the improvements to each of the buildings in the plan.