The May 2, 2023 election will include the Wayland Union School District’s Bond Proposal for $49,700,000. The Bond will be millage-neutral because its passage will not change the current school millage collected on property tax bills. Every school in the district will receive improvements as outlined in the proposal. An area that has brought concerns and nays from some voters has been the swimming pool. The pool was opened in 1975 and is currently in need of major repairs. A new facility would allow for competitions plus continue to give enjoyment, lessons and physical activity to all residents.
May 2, 2023 is coming quickly and the Wayland Union Schools Board of Education request that voters go to the polls and approve a bond proposal that will make improvements to facilities across the district. The passage of the bond will not increase the current Debt Mills assessed on property, but it will improve the educational environment for students at all levels.
The 2023 Bond approval would allow for additional improvements to revive aging facilities. The sale of the $49.7m in bonds would provide the funding for projects at all buildings. The new debt, if approved by the voters, would be for 25 years and 10 months with no increase to the current school millage of 8.4 mills on tax bills.
This millage-neutral bond addresses a number of concerns expressed by parents and other district stakeholders. These begin with safety issues that include new exterior doors for most schools as well as other security enhancements such as security film on windows and additional cameras.
Academic and instructional areas would also be renovated or added to improve student opportunities to learn life skills. The ever expanding instrumental and vocal programs would receive spaces with better acoustics, storage and practice rooms. With the band and orchestra moving to a new space, the vocal program would move to the renovated band room.
STEM programs would expand with space for robotics. In addition, the auto and wood trades areas would receive upgrading with modern equipment and workspaces. A Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) program would move into the vacated choral room.
Several basic capital building projects will be addressed. The 30-year old middle school roof and windows would be replaced. At the same time, the elementary will receive enhancements for security, handicap accessible restrooms, technology upgrades, furniture and flooring. Making improvements to aging buildings will extend the life of existing facilities.
Over the past weeks, residents have posed questions concerning how a project of this size can be done at no additional cost to property owners. The bottom line comes back to fiscal responsibility of the district leadership, and the current environment across the state to support education.
At the same time, nagging questions are posed regarding the current swimming pool facility. To quell concerns, a timeline focused on the Swimming Pool was designed. The pool was opened in 1975 for not only the students in physical education classes, but community open swim, competitions, fitness classes for everyone in the community, and summer swim lessons for all ages.
Move forward to 2008 when the pool facility was 33 years old. A pool replacement was considered with a new bond proposal then removed because of the cost while other projects took priority. The $38,930,000 passed with no pool improvement included.
The school district conducted major PoolPak Repairs during the 2015-16 school year, but these were not enough to allow for legal diving from the basic starting block. Therefore, the pool is being used, but not for competition which affects the swim teams. That moved the addition of a new swimming pool to the 2016 bond proposal. The May 2017 Bond Proposal failed. The pool was removed for the November 2017 Bond, and the bond passed to add an 8th grade wing to the middle school.
The current Bond proposal which includes the new swimming pool was placed on the August 2022 proposal that failed by 225 votes. The May 2, 2023 Bond Proposal for $49,700,000 is identical to the 2022 Bond allowing for inflation.
For no additional school millage change, the Wayland Union School District voters have an opportunity to upgrade their school environments with facilities that will be safer and more cost effective for all students. At the same time, voters would be able to improve facilities that are open to the public. Performance areas, STEM spaces and equipment, and the pool can be utilized by community individuals and groups.
Recently, the Wayland Wildcats Robotics Team #6090 took top honors at the Michigan State Championship. Orchestra, band and choir members have earned high ratings at competitions. The theater department is ready to perform Disney’s The Descendants that will be opening for the public at the beginning of May.
Each day students gather with their instructors to learn the basic academic skills and strategies that will be taken into careers beyond the classroom. Extra-curricular activities, whether athletic related, arts centered or technology driven require spaces and equipment that match what students will encounter beyond school walls.
The most amazing concept ingrained in the May 2023 Wayland Union School District Bond Proposal is that voters can create facilities that will touch the lives of all members of the school and surrounding community at no additional school millage on property tax bills.
For additional information on the bond and the district needs, a place to begin may be at https://www.waylandunionbond2022.com/ or call the district office at (269) 792-2181 with questions or a tour of the areas to be addressed.