ALLEGAN, Mich. — The Allegan Public Schools Board of Education has voted to place an $87.5 million bond proposal on the May election ballot to fund district-wide facility upgrades.
If approved by voters, the bond proposal would continue the district’s existing debt millage rate and would not present homeowners with a debt tax rate increase over the 2020 levy, according to a news release Friday.
In addition, with interest rates currently at or near historic lows, there’s an opportunity to minimize the cost of borrowing for district taxpayers, APS said.
“This bond issue would allow us to make updates to spaces across the district so we can create modern, 21st-century learning environments for APS students, without asking homeowners to raise the debt millage,” Superintendent James Antoine said.
The purpose of the bond issue is to add capacity at the district’s elementary schools by creating a new K-5 elementary complex, modernize learning environments and address safety, security and facility improvements.
Additional bond improvements proposed include:
- Mechanical system upgrades throughout the district
- New furnishings and finish updates in all buildings
- Pick-up and drop-off renovation at the middle school
- Secure vestibule entrances at the middle and high schools
- Science wing addition at the middle school
- New tennis courts and track resurfacing
- Updates to the performing arts center
The projects were developed after the district conducted a facilities assessment, which included multiple staff and community work sessions to gauge project priority.
APS is working with architecture and engineering firm TowerPinkster and construction management partner The Christman Company.
“We have been able to maintain our facilities for many years,” Antoine said. “Now, we have the opportunity to make updates throughout the district that can impact current and future APS learners.”
The district will hold multiple community forums over the next few months to share more details regarding the proposed plan.
If voters approve the bond proposal on May 4, the project’s design and engineering process would take over a year.
Construction would happen in several phases starting in Spring 2022.
Read more about the bond proposal from the district here.
