Community Meetings on School Bond Issue

(Crystal A. Proxmire, 12/05/2011)

 

The Ferndale School District is moving forward with plans to put a $22,825,000 bond on the February ballot.  The bond is an extension of current bonds with the taxes collected to be used for improvements to the School’s multiple buildings and property. There will be several meetings over the next two months to discuss the needs of the District with members of the public. Superintendent Gary Meier will be on hand to share information about the District moving forward.

 

According to Ferndale Schools, “He plans to share his thoughts on the state of the district, in particular the district’s long-term facilities needs. He will answer audience member questions about school matters, including the recent survey of elementary parents and the future of the academic programming.”

 

Meetings are open to the public. Upcoming Meetings are:

 

Tues, Dec 6………… Coolidge………….. 7-9 pm

Wed, Dec 7………… JFK…………………… 7-9 pm

Tues, Dec 13………..Roosevelt………………………………..7-9 pm

Wed, Jan 11………… PR Rec Center…………………………6-8 pm

Mon, Jan 23……….. FHS/FMS……………………….6:30-8:30 pm

Mon, Jan 30……….. Ferndale Library…………………….6-8 pm

 

Additional meetings are being finalized at Grant Early Childhood Center/Royal Oak Township, Kulick Center, and the City of Oak Park. Any additional meetings will be published on the Ferndale Schools Website at www.ferndaleschools.org.

At their November 21, 2011 meeting the Ferndale School Board voted unanimously to submit an application to the Michigan Department of Treasury for the proposed bond vote.

If the Department of Treasury approves the application, the Ferndale Board will take final action at its December 19, 2011 to determine whether a bond issue will be placed on the ballot.  The targeted election date is February 28, 2012.

The application describes what the money will be used for through the eleven buildings owned by the District, including the following projects:  remodeling, refurnishing, mechanical upgrades, lighting, improvements to stage and sound systems, improvement to pools, safety upgrades, playground and parking lot upgrades and technology upgrades.

In July the Bond Committee, tasked with reviewing the District’s needs, took a tour of the District’s properties, including this tour of Ferndale High which The Ferndale 115 News covered.  The tours showed problems faced by the students and teachers in the aging buildings.

The Bond Application, which can be downloaded in its entirety here, goes through each building and its specific needs.  It includes proposed bond language as well as terms of the bond they are seeking.

For more information about the proposed bond issue or the public meetings, please refer to the district’s website, www.ferndaleschools.org.