SAUGATUCK, Mich. — Saugatuck Public Schools is asking the community to approve a $50.7 million bond and a renewal of the district's .5 mill sinking fund in the May 8 election.
The Saugatuck Board of Education approved the decision to put the two measures on the ballot after 18 months of facility assessments, a design process with students, staff and community members and various committee meetings.
"Based on information gathered through this process, the board feels that now is the right time to address infrastructure repairs and upgrades such as roofing, mechanical systems for heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting, and parking and driveways," Superintendent Tim Travis said. "The bond would also address an aging bus fleet, land purchase and construction of a new bus garage, and land purchase for future community recreation us."
Sinking funds, by law, can only be used for repairs and renovations to school buildings, land purchases and technology and security upgrades. Saugatuck's sinking fund generates approximately $300,058 per year. If the community approves the renewal, the fund will continue through 2022, and Travis said the district would be able to start facility upgrades in spring 2019.
Although the sinking fund would cover a great deal of the infrastructure, the district isn't just focused on renovation. Travis said there are talks to renovate Douglas Elementary and Saugatuck Middle/High School to better match the district's educational practices. The district has moved to more inquiry-based science, project-based learning and collaborative problem solving, which requires more open and flexible spaces; a bond would fund the creation of those spaces.
If the bond is approved, the media centers in both the elementary and middle/high school building would get a modern update, and the cafeterias would become more multi-purpose spaces. Dedicated spaces to STEAM -- science, technology, engineering, art and math -- would also be created with new science labs in each building, technology and robotics rooms, maker spaces and an outdoor learning space at the elementary school.
Additionally, the bond would fund a new music and band suite and a new art room in the middle/high school, as well as a new music and art room for the elementary school. Collaboration spaces for students, faculty and community use would also be created in each building.
If the bond is approved, the district's debt millage would increase by 1.17, or approximately an additional $58.50 per year for someone who owns a home with a market value of $100,000. The current rate is 3.5806, making the total debt millage 4.7506.
