By Gari Voss
The residents of the Fennville School District will have an opportunity on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, to pass a bond request that will reduce the school millage while making important improvements to all schools. This can occur thanks to paying off the elementary school bond of 2006, and fiscal responsibility of the Fennville School Board. In short, with the passage of the millage, all buildings across the district will receive needed updates without increasing the financial burden on property owners.
On Thursday, July 24, 2025, from 7-8pm, residents can attend an Open House to learn more about the through, thoughtful strategic plan that the School Board was able to follow to determine the creation of the bond.
“It is important to note that this is an extension of our current tax levy that we are asking voters to approve with a reduction of 0.5 mills,” explained Superintendent Albert Lombard. “This millage is not to add buildings, athletic complexes, or any other ‘nice to haves’. This is purely to keep up with aging infrastructure and an opportunity to upgrade and update student learning spaces. Nothing fancy, just asking voters to extend the millage so we can generate some funds for necessary repairs.”
The process began by establishing a 14-member community task force. The Fennville Schools Community Advisory Task Force began working in 2024 to determine the needs across the Fennville Schools District. Then, an examination of data and responses from a facility assessment and community-wide survey assisted in the improvement recommendations made to the Fennville School Board in February 2025.
The Task Force, with the assistance of experts, was able to focus on the basic needs of the school district and the wants of the stakeholders. The buildings are aging – the high school is 50 years old, the middle school is 68 years old, and the “new” elementary is 20 years old. This means there are infrastructure needs, basic construction needs like windows and roofs, and safety and energy needs to meet current standards.
The team also determined that financially, this was the time to propose a bond issue. The previous bond of 2006 for the elementary school was recently paid off. The estimated cost of the identified improvements would be less than the elementary bond. Thus, there would be a reduction in school millage of 0.5 mills.
A summary of what could be done to meet the needs and wants is:
District Wide
Replace boilers
Improve fire alarm and communication systems
Upgrade classroom furniture district-wide to support group work, flexible seating, and modern learning
Enhance outdoor learning environments
Replace district-owned section of Memorial Drive
Elementary School
Upgrade full Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system
Replace roof
Improve windows
Replace the water heater
Middle School
Upgrade Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system
Renovate restrooms for ADA compliance
Update cafeteria with an open layout to create a more flexible, multi-purpose space
Repair exterior brickwork where needed
Replace exterior doors
Replace windows with failed seals
Replace chiller
Replace water heater
High School
Upgrade Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system
Replace roof
Renovate restrooms for ADA compliance
Replace chiller
Replace water heater
Replace Band Room flooring
“We are also going to use the additional funds to update learning spaces in all buildings as well as outdoor spaces for our students to access during the school year,” added Lombard.
The school district’s stakeholders have been kept informed of decisions thanks to the Task Force and School Board through Board meetings and Town Hall gatherings. The final Town Hall will be Thursday, July 24, 2025, from 7-8pm at the Fennville High School Media Center.
Fennville Public Schools Bond Proposal
“Shall Fennville Public Schools, Allegan County, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Twenty-Two Million Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($22,350,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefore for the purpose of: remodeling, equipping and re-equipping, and furnishing and refurnishing school buildings and facilities; erecting and equipping structures for outdoor education programs; and preparing, developing, improving, and equipping playgrounds and sites?”
The team felt that voters should know that a successful millage would levy the proposed bonds in 2025 of 1.29 mills. This would be a 0.5 mill net decrease from 2024. The maximum number of years of the bond would be 25 years but may be less due to any refunds.
After the first year, the average annual millage is anticipated to be 1.96 mills. The school district does not expect to borrow from the State to pay debt service on the bonds.
The total amount of qualified bonds currently outstanding is $32,530,000. The total amount of qualified loans currently outstanding is $0. The estimated computed millage rate may change based on changes in certain circumstances.
“We are asking voters for a continued commitment on the current tax rate that they are paying—and slightly less, in order to maintain the safety and security of the buildings across the district,” explained Lombard. “The school district has been excellent stewards of the taxpayer money over the years, yet we still have some repairs that we cannot afford to fall behind on in order to keep each of our schools up to date for our students.”
What the Funding Supports
The proposed referendum would fund essential updates that protect school buildings and directly support student learning. The majority of funds would be utilized for HVAC, boilers and water heaters (44.10%) and exterior infrastructure (40.40%). 8.9% of the total would go to health, safety, security, and accessibility plus 6.5% for learning spaces.
“We are grateful to our community for the support they have given!” reiterated Lombard. “If voters approve this continued commitment with a small decrease, we will be able to stay ahead of repairs, maintenance, and other important infrastructure needs of the district to better serve the students.”
At this time, voters can attend the Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, July 24th from 7-8pm at the Fennville High School Media Center to get questions answered. The next important step is to vote on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.
