SCHOOLS: School Bond Update

As we near the beginning of what's sure to be another great school year in our award-winning district, let's keep in mind the upcoming bond proposal.  The proposal would allow for much-needed updates to our facilities.  Our teachers and staff do such an excellent job with the existing facilities, it can be difficult to realize that our children are attending schools which were built half a century or more ago.  Mattawan Early Elementary alone is home to over 900 students, who are receiving one of the best educations in the state despite being housed in buildings meant for less than half that number.

The District has conducted voter surveys and held a number of focus groups throughout the community over the past year.  Based on the feedback they received, which supports the premise that our school facilities are badly in need of attention, the School Board established a Community Committee, made up of the attendees of the public meetings, to review the District's needs and to present recommendations.

The Community Committee reviewed eight different options for addressing the Elementary School needs.  Ultimately, the Community Committee has recommended the building of two new Elementary Schools, small additions and limited remodeling at the Middle School & High School buildings as well as technology upgrades and new bus purchases.  It's important to note that the bonds will be structured in two series, allowing the millage increase and its impact on taxpayers to be lower than previous bond proposals.  To figure out how the proposals will impact you, head over to the tax calculator here.  Be sure to input your home's TAXABLE VALUE, not your home's actual value for an accurate representation of the tax impact.

The project will being put forth as two separate ballot proposals:

PROPOSAL I

$62,370,000 2.59 Mill increase

1.  Erect, furnish and equip two (2) new elementary school buildings.

2.  Acquire, install and equip the new elementary buildings for instructional technology and related infrastructure.

3.  Develop, improve and equip playgrounds, play fields and sites.

PROPOSAL II

$16,290,000 .98 Mill increase

1.  Erect, furnish and equip additions to the middle school and high school buildings.

2.  Remodel, furnish/refurnish and equip/re-equip the middle school and high school buildings.

3.  Acquire, install and equip the middle school and high school buildings for instructional technology and related infrastructure.

4.  Purchase new school buses.

5.  Develop and improve sites.