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District outlines $98 million phased school bond; board to decide in July
Summary
Grand Haven Area Public Schools presented an 18-month facilities planning process and proposed a $98 million phase-1 bond to renovate three elementary schools, add gym/classroom space and address buses, technology and music needs; the board must decide in July whether to place the question on the November ballot.
Kristen Perkowski, presenting for Grand Haven Area Public Schools, updated the city council on a 15–20 year facilities master plan and a proposal to seek voter approval in November for a $98,000,000 phase-1 bond.
Perkowski said the district spent 18 months on planning and community engagement and that the board has not yet voted to place a bond on the ballot; the board would need to decide by its July meeting for a November question. Phase 1 would prioritize Ferry Elementary, Peach Plains Elementary and Rosie Mound, and would fund buses, technology infrastructure, music instruments and elementary renovations. Perkowski said community survey results showed strong support for replacing buses (73%), furniture and music (69%) and technology upgrades (69%).
She outlined tradeoffs and phasing choices: Lakeshore Middle School was excluded from the early phases because including it would make the proposal substantially larger than community feedback indicated was supportable. Perkowski provided a tax-rate comparison and said the proposed $98 million ask would increase the millage by about 1.95 mills—described in the presentation as adding roughly $24.36 per month to the typical homeowner’s bill as framed in the district’s example—while noting the district’s millage and sinking-fund history.
Councilmembers and residents expressed support for the phased approach and emphasized aligning school facilities with workforce and career-readiness partnerships; Perkowski said staff will continue outreach and that the board would make a July decision on whether to put the measure before voters.
