STURGIS, MI — Sturgis Public Schools is looking to district voters to consider a $98.475 million bond proposal May 5 that, if passed, will extend a current bond with no increase in taxes.
The district is nearing the end of a current, 30-year bond and, over the course of the past several months, district officials identified several enhancements and upgrades, from infrastructure and safety to community and athletic complex improvements.
On April 23, superintendent Art Ebert held an informational session for the public at the Sturgis District Library, attended by more than 30 people throughout the course of the presentation. Ebert said that gathering was the 29th such talk he had made on the proposal, which all told reached nearly 675 district residents in person.
Sturgis Public Schools Superintendent Art Ebert presents school bond proposal information to an audience of approximately 30 Thursday, April 23 at the Sturgis District Library.
The request is an extension of the current millage, resulting in no millage increase, Ebert said. The district’s last bond was in 2000, with $10.7 million left in that current 30-year cycle.
The millage rate starting in 2027 is $3.15 on each $1,000 of a home’s taxable valuation, according to information provided by the district.
Ebert said three community engagement sessions were held in previous months to determine what projects stakeholders would like to see happen and what they would support.
Ebert said a bond would enable the district to address needs in a reasonable timeframe, as $28 million has been spent in the past seven years on piecemeal renovations.
Of the $98 million in the proposal, approximately $25.8 million would be marked for a new aquatic center, a facility similar to the community pool currently in use. Bathroom improvements — 116 rooms in all — are estimated to cost $11.8 million, and roof replacements set to total $9.5 million.
Updating the district’s athletic facilities and installing turf at the football, baseball and softball fields totals $11.4 million.
Secure vestibules at all campus buildings are expected to cost $1.8 million, while media center renovations are set to total $7.8 million. Improvements to align the district with Americans with Disabilities Act standards are estimated at $3.3 million.
Other focus areas include boiler replacements, new secure classroom locks, parking lot and driveway redesign, particularly at the Wall and Eastwood school properties, classroom expansions and renovations, repurposing the current community pool building for indoor sports activities, and additional stadium improvements.
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On the matter of the proposed turf installation, Ebert said use of the district’s fields are currently limited to only official school games, something that would change should artificial turf be installed.
“We don’t use them; why? We don’t want the varsity fields torn up and be unsafe leading up to a game. We rarely use our big, beautiful stadium outside our games,” Ebert said.
Additionally, Ebert said, dozens of games over the years have been canceled after rain events due to field condition.
On the topic of a new aquatic center, Ebert said the goal is to place that facility in front of the high school. He said the community pool is a sought-after service, but that it is in need of updating for both community and school events.
“Our current pool is not to code,” he said. “We were grandfathered in with a five-foot deep dive area. It now has to be six feet seven inches. The current pool is six lanes, and the new one would be eight lanes.”
Ebert said programming in water sports is expanding, and a new center would keep Sturgis competitive.
“With expanded usage, you can have multiple events at once, from training to lessons and practices; plus, it would allow meets to go faster,” Ebert said. “We in Sturgis like to host events. The MHSAA (Michigan High School Athletic Association) will not allow events to be hosted in Sturgis with a six-lane pool.”
Should the bond proposal pass, Ebert said the first installment of funds would be released in 2027. He said the pool facility is the largest project for the district, and it is placed in the first series of projects. The aquatic center could take “a couple years” to finish, Ebert said, due to the complexity of such a construction project. The current pool would remain in operation until the replacement building is finished.
To save time and costs, Ebert said each building would be improved start to finish, one at a time. Jerolene and Congress elementary school buildings would be the first facilities tended to.
After the presentation, Ebert took questions from the audience that centered primarily on the athletics aspect of the proposal, classrooms, bathrooms and community pool. Interactions ranged from full support, questions to learn more about the proposal, concerns about the emphasis on athletics, and disapproval over the bond proposal in general.
It was also suggested that Ebert conduct a bilingual informational event, given the district’s Hispanic population is approximately 27% according to the 2020 U.S. Census.
Voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 5 at the Sturges-Young Center for the Arts, 201 N. Nottawa St. in Sturgis.
This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Sturgis, Mi schools bond proposal seeks $98 million
