Alanson superintendent asks voters to renew $2.2 million school bond on May ballot

Rachelle Cook, superintendent of Alanson Public Schools, told the Village of Alanson council on March 11 that the district will ask voters May 7, 2024, to approve a $2.2 million bond over a 10-year term and to renew its sinking fund.

Cook said the request is a renewal of the district’s expiring 2014 bond with what she described as "a small increase," and that the bond proceeds would be directed to the district’s specified projects list. Residents asked for details about projects identified in the proposal, including replacement steel doors, locker-room work and the purchase of a new school bus.

The proposal also includes a request to renew the sinking fund (described in the meeting as the district's "rainy day fund") to maintain capital needs between bond cycles. In response to questions from Trustee Doug Larson, Cook confirmed the current bond is expiring, the new request represents a modest increase and the sinking fund is a renewal of an existing levy.

Resident Matthew Weeber asked for clarification on specific line items in the handout distributed with the presentation. The superintendent and council did not vote on the school proposal at the March 11 council meeting; the district will place the bond question on the May 7 ballot and voters will decide.

The superintendent’s presentation and public inquiries at the meeting centered on project-level details; the school district's materials provided the full list of projects (handout attached to the meeting minutes). The council did not take official action on the school bond at this meeting; the next step is the May 7 election when voters will consider the measure.