The Saint Joseph School Board hopes a local bidding preference approved this week will help jumpstart the city’s economy. Assistant to the superintendent Steve Huff says the one percent preference may let a local company build the new elementary school in the April bond issue.

The $42-million issue on the April 3rd ballot would pay for a new elementary school in Carden Park, air conditioning in several schools, and other improvements…all without raising the tax rate. Passage would require approval by four-sevenths of the voters, or just over 57 percent.