The Aberdeen School Board has approved a $2.5 million bond to install a modular building at Miller Junior High to accommodate sixth-grade students next school year.

Because of new state requirements that require grades K-3 to have at maximum 17 students per class, the Aberdeen School District decided to move sixth-grade students to Miller in fall of 2019, adding them to seventh- and eighth-graders. The district reported last school year having more than 19 students per class on average in those grades. If the district failed to reduce those lower grade class sizes, it would have received $600,000 less in state funding.

The board unanimously voted in favor of the bond at last week’s meeting.

This is a non-voted limited general obligation bond, and will not be voted on by district residents. The bond has a 10-year payment schedule of approximately $285,000 per year, according to Elyssa Louderback, executive director of business and operations in the district. She added the district will have the option of paying it off sooner.

The modular building will have multiple classrooms, includes air conditioning and restrooms, and will have covered walkways leading to the main Miller building. It will be located just adjacent to the northern wing of Miller, in the field next to Pioneer Park.

District officials said there will be more information about the switch of sixth-graders to Miller at parent-teacher meetings this year.