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Superintendent outlines plan to resume welding class at Armory, warns governor's per‑pupil increase provides limited net funds
Summary
Superintendent Greg Bloomgren told the board the district is exploring a lease and facility work to move its welding class to the Armory and said the governor's proposed per‑pupil increase would net only about $60,000 after one‑time funds are considered, leaving budgetary shortfalls the district must address.
Superintendent Greg Bloomgren updated the Dowagiac Union School District board on plans to restore the district’s welding class and on the district’s near‑term budget outlook.
Bloomgren said district staff held a design discussion with Ignite Engineering and the Armory to examine whether the district could lease and remodel space to host a welding program. He said the district will engage a construction company recommended by the architect to produce cost estimates and that discussions with Armory leadership are ongoing. "We're going to move forward with having a construction company come in…to give us a cost estimate or projection," Bloomgren said, stressing the work is at an exploratory stage and no lease has been finalized.
On the budget, Bloomgren said the governor’s proposed per‑pupil increase would not substantially raise local operating capacity because it would be offset by one‑time federal funds the district received this year. "Our net increase with that increase that the governor is proposing is only a $60,000 increase to our overall budget," he told the board, adding that the district still faces a funding gap given existing contractual commitments.
Bloomgren also announced spring parent‑teacher conference dates, the district’s plan to coordinate a Top‑10 academic dinner in April and an upcoming informal superintendent evaluation update at the March workshop. He asked board members to review his professional portfolio prior to the March update.
The superintendent framed the welding‑class work as preparatory — assessments and appraisals are still pending — and said any move would depend on cost estimates and a workable lease arrangement.
