Residents of two towns in Michigan voted in favor of a $10.4 million bond to improve local school conditions and security May 3.
Voters of Galesburg and Augusta in southern Michigan approved the plan to repair leaky roofs, replace old windows and secure the front entrances at each of the district’s schools, according to mlive.com.
The vote ends months of campaigning by supporters of the bond and board members of Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools. Now residents will pay a heightened mill property tax rate that was scheduled to decrease this December.
“Myself, the board of education and the entire bond committee is just ecstatic at what this means for our district,” Superintendent Dania Bazzi says.
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Although construction at the district’s three schools may not begin until the conclusion of the school year, district officials expect to start hosting planning sessions with architects immediately.
An earlier upgrade plan that included funds for a new athletic stadium was rejected by voters last year.
The upgrade plans for the district, which enrolls slightly more than 1,000 students, are listed below.
- Galesburg-Augusta Middle School (grades 5-8) will receive $7,914,110 to replace the roof, windows and doors; install a front entrance vestibule, card readers and surveillance cameras; and install new cabinetry, corridor lockers, a public address system and a fire alarm system in addition to various technology upgrades.
- Galesburg-Augusta High School (grades 9-12) will receive $1,253,761 to replace the roof, install a security entrance vestibule, a card access system, climate controls and to make HVAC and technology upgrades.
- Galesburg-Augusta Primary School (grades K-4) will receive $1,237,011 to partially replace the roof, improve lighting, install a front entrance vestibule, a card access system, surveillance cameras, integrated HVAC controls and for technology upgrades.
