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Harper Creek board votes to call Aug. 4 election on $28 million bond with no millage increase
Summary
The Harper Creek Board of Education voted 4–0 to call a special Aug. 4, 2026 election on a $28 million bond package that district leaders say would add classroom space, upgrade safety and technology, and fund maintenance without increasing current millage.
Harper Creek Board of Education members on Monday voted unanimously to call a special election on Aug. 4 to ask voters to approve a $28 million bond that district leaders say would not raise the current millage rate.
Ridgeway, the district superintendent, told the board the package targets three priorities: safety and technology upgrades, additional classroom space at elementary schools and converted space at the middle school, and maintenance projects such as parking‑lot and drainage repairs. “But generally speaking, if Morris says yes, we would be asking taxpayers for $28,000,000, but it would be no millage increase over current values,” Ridgeway said.
The board approved a resolution prepared by Truman Law Firm to call the election. The motion passed 4–0, with members voting yes: Waterston, Albert, Smith and Best.
District officials said the bond would keep the district’s current millage at about 7.12 mills and, if approved, allow construction to begin the following summer. Ridgeway said the bond would fund four additional classrooms at each elementary school, conversion of an unused middle‑school pool area into classrooms, safety film on lower‑floor windows, classroom technology upgrades and repairs identified in a facility assessment.
Ridgeway emphasized the district has pursued community input, including a steering committee and public meetings, and that the district plans information videos and a postcard mailing to registered voters. “Please vote by August 4,” Ridgeway said, summarizing the outreach plan in sample materials shown to the board.
Board members noted it has been many years since the district last issued a bond for major construction; the last bond work cited by staff began after a 2007 vote. The board set a timeline to finalize ballot language and administrative steps required to place the question on the Aug. 4 ballot.
The resolution passed at the meeting only calls for the election; any bond expenditures would require final project approvals and future actions by the board if voters approve the measure.
