GH schools consider $29 million bond

Thu, Dec 4, 2008    to del.icio.us

Grand Haven Area Public Schools trustees are moving toward a resolution to seek a $29 million bond election next spring.

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Superintendent Keith Konarska said the bond would generate funds needed for technology and energy updates, new buses, and roof replacements.

"We need to get to the next level in energy savings and technology," he said. "We want to make sure our students have the best technology to prepare them for a changing world."

The board is expected to make a final approval on the bond issue when it meets Dec. 10. The approval would authorize Konarska to meet with state treasury officials Jan. 6 to request the bond election for May 4.

"Moving forward now is important because we have a good chance of putting in the kinds of cost-saving energy updates and efficiencies to reduce utility costs and put that money back into classrooms," Trustee Dave Davis said.

Energy funds included in the bond would replace the high school's aquatic center boilers with energy efficient boilers as well as alternative energy sources, including geothermal heat and ice storage cooling at the high school. Energy updates at the other school buildings would include replacing windows with energy efficient windows, replacing heat and ventilation systems, and adding computer controls for heat and light systems.

The school board requested an analysis of the district's energy and technology needs last spring.

Kingscott Associates, an architect firm, and construction contractor Owen-Ames-Kimball helped district officials with the analysis at no charge, Konarska said. With more information presented to them, board members discussed the schools' energy, technology and space needs at their fall retreat and at a special board work session Tuesday night.

"Our need is now," Trustee John Simieon said. "We need to get all the technology to our kids sooner so they can be competitive in the marketplace."

Nearly $5 million of technology updates would be included in the Proposal 1.

The funds would equip more classrooms with the same kind of technology Peach Plains Elementary teacher Nancy Fiore uses in her classroom.

"Students are so advanced with the technology in their own home and we have to compete with that," Fiore said. "These kids are growing up with this technology and it needs to be in the classroom."

Because of PTA fundraising, grants and some district funds, Fiore has five student computers in her classroom. To deliver instruction, she also uses a document camera; overhead projector; and audio enhancement, a device connected to strategically placed speakers to level out the sound so that every student can clearly hear her voice without yelling.

"The statistics are amazing," Fiore said. "The audio enhancement allows me to use a normal voice that all students hear no matter where I am in classroom."

To make technology and energy updates, the bond proposal could come in two parts:

Proposal 1: $13 million to make energy updates to the high school, the district's newest building, and Lakeshore Middle School, the district's oldest building; make technology updates throughout the district; and purchase new buses and replace some school roofs. This proposal would not raise taxes, but instead extend the current 2.8-mill levy for 10 years.

Donna Bylenga, the district's director of business services, said the money generated would come from a combination of increased tax values and 1.2 mills from a 1998 refunding bond "falling off" in 2013-14.

Proposal 2: $16 million to make energy updates on each additional GHAPS school building. This 15-year bond proposal requires a 0.25-mill increase, equaling about $25 a year for a resident with a home's taxable value at $100,000. Taxable value is usually about half of a home's appraised value, Bylenga said.

"If Proposal 2 passed, but Proposal 1 did not, both would be null and void," Bylenga said.

"With very little burden to taxpayers, we could generate enough money to provide the technology our kids need to be competitive in the work place — and add the energy efficiency updates where it's needed most and provide more safe busses," Konarska said.

Grand Haven residents have the lowest school tax burden in Ottawa County.

"We would still be tied (with Holland) for the lowest tax levy if both proposals passed," Bylenga said. "We're asking for a low-cost tax burden for a lot of buying power."

The most recent GHAPS bond election took place in 2005 for $16 million to build the athletic complex, purchase buses and increase security.

The next issue the school board and district will tackle is space issues due to the unfunded mandate to go toward an all-day kindergarten, which would require 13 additional classrooms and staff.