Ionia board reviews bond survey showing strong community support for safety and infrastructure projects

Superintendent Benjamin Gurk told the Ionia Public Schools Board of Education on May 19 that three surveys of community members show strong support for a proposed Safety & Infrastructure bond.

Gurk summarized results from an email survey (473 respondents, 348 of whom said they would support the bond), a 47-response QR survey, and an EPIC MRA phone poll of 300 likely voters in which 82% expressed support for infrastructure updates. Gurk said that item-level support in the phone poll included 78% for double-door entrances, 67% for closing Emerson Elementary and adding on to Boyce Elementary, 60% for building a performing arts center, and 70% for installing air conditioning. He also reported that 70% of respondents said they would vote yes if the bond were held today.

Executive Director of Business and Finance Jammie Sprank provided supplemental context about the survey outreach and summarized the district’s financial posture as part of the discussion. Board members did not take a formal vote on placing a bond question on the ballot at the meeting; the presentation served to inform further planning.

Why it matters: a successful bond would fund facility upgrades and safety improvements across the district, decisions that would affect building configurations and capital spending. The board heard the survey figures as part of preliminary community feedback but did not set a timeline for a ballot proposal.

Next steps: district leaders will use the survey results in planning and community engagement; no formal action was taken at the May 19 meeting.