Hazel Park Schools Aims to Educate Voters on May 7 Bond Proposal with Website and Bus Tours
(Crystal A. Proxmire, March 14, 2024)
Hazel Park, MI – Voters in the Hazel Park School District have a number of ways to learn about the bond proposal on the May 7 ballot, including hopping on a school bus and visiting the buildings for themselves. The can also visit hazelparkschools.org or check out literature inside all the District buildings.
The first bus tour took place March 2. The next are on March 16 and April 13. The tours start at 9am at Webb/Jardon location, then visits each building with a return to Webb/Jardon Elementary at 12:30pm. Attendees can ride the bus, or follow along in their own vehicle.
Oakland County Times recently took a mini-tour with Superintendent Dr. Amy Kruppe of Webster School, which would be torn down and replaced with a new building on the same property. Built in 1957, there are a number of issues impacting the safety and learning experiences of students and staff.
The most noticeable thing to one’s nose is the stench of the old, musty cabinets that are built into classrooms. While the building is clean, and attempts have been made to remediate the smell, it simply persists.
The doors are also made of decades old wood, that has concerns even deeper than age. The doors have large glass window panes which could be broken should someone with bad intent wanted to access the rooms. Teachers also don’t have the ability to lock doors from the inside the room, should a lock down be necessary.
Another security issue is that entrances do not meet modern safety standards, where vestibules are needed so that security can better monitor guests. The PA (public address) system is an antique, with giant speaker boxes on the walls of rooms. Like many older items, it’s difficult to find replacement parts when needed, and the quality is terrible. Dr. Kruppe said that in emergencies, having a loud, clear, and reliable PA system can save lives.
Many of the issues are not just with age, but with design. Older buildings do not have space for expanded wiring and electrical needs for modern classrooms, such as smart boards and wireless internet. There are also issues with accessing plumbing in the bathrooms. If repairs are needed, workers must tear through concrete and tiles. And as the building ages, these become more common problems.
The heating system has the same problem, and there isn’t air conditioning. As temperatures consistently rise, the concern is not just about comfort, but about safety.
The building also needs a new roof, another costly repair.
Rebuilding Webster would also make it possible to create usable courtyards, where students could have community gardens and have places for outdoor learning.
“You can continue to do the best with what you have, but at a certain point it just makes more sense to build a new building that meets our needs and doesn’t have all these issues. You have to think about the long-term costs,” Dr. Kruppe said.
Other projects of the bond include improvements to the High School auditorium, new public address systems, new doors and locks, remodeling for secured entrance ways, an emergency generator at the high school, upgrades to heating and cooling systems, roof repairs and replacements, outdoor learning spaces, replacing boilers at some schools, and replacements of features at the high school track including a new scoreboard and home bleachers.
The bond proposal would raise $150,000,000 for building and site improvements. It has a net zero mill increase from the current levy over the 35-year bond period. This is due to anticipated increase in taxable values, as well as a reduction in the millage rate over time as the bond is paid down.
The election takes place May 7, 2024, though voters may opt to use early voting or absentee.
Those wanting to learn more can check out a brochure online with more details at https://www.hazelparkschools.org/downloads/_news_/binder1_7.pdf.
