A Richmond Schools representative urged Richmond voters to approve a school bond on the Nov. 4 ballot to add classrooms, parking and other facility improvements to accommodate projected student growth.

The district representative told the City Council that Richmond has seen steady enrollment growth while statewide enrollment has declined and that local projections show roughly 16% growth—about 300 additional students—over the next 10 years.

If approved, the ballot measure would fund classroom additions at all three district schools, expanded parking at each campus, a new multipurpose gymnasium and cafeteria expansion at the middle school, renovated locker rooms and an expanded clinic at the high school, and a partial roof replacement at Lee Elementary School. The representative said most of the bond would pay for new additions and that the proposal would not increase the community’s current debt levy rate.

The district representative said the work would occur in two phases, with the first phase beginning in 2026 and focused on a middle school addition and additional elementary parking; the second phase, slated for 2028, would include high school improvements and elementary classroom additions. The speaker urged residents to review plans and budgets available on the district website and to vote on Nov. 4.

The representative also said, “not many districts in the state of Michigan can say that their enrollment has been steadily increasing,” and repeated the request that residents visit the district website for details and “encourage everybody to vote on November 4.”

City Council members did not take action on the bond; the presentation occurred during the public comment portion of the Aug. 18 meeting.

The council agenda and packets contain a debt levy chart and project breakdowns, the district representative said, and attendees were directed to the district’s online “Just Ask” page for additional questions.

The council discussed school start dates and local calendar items later in the meeting but did not vote on the bond proposal at this session.