MATTAWAN – On Tuesday, May 7, residents who live within the Mattawan Consolidated School boundaries will have the opportunity to vote on a comprehensive school bond.
In a press release from the Mattawan Board of Education and District Superintendent Randy Fleenor, it said, “We trust that you share our enthusiasm for the future of Mattawan. This project presents a distinctive chance to invest in both our students and the broader community, all without imposing an additional millage increase burden on taxpayers.
“Your unwavering commitment to our students and community is sincerely appreciated. Together, we have the power to create a lasting impact on the education and well-being of the upcoming generation.
“As we approach Tuesday, May 7, our focus revolves around five key objectives for the bond:
Preserve existing assets
Prioritize safety and security
Provide future-focused academic and extracurricular experiences for our students
Enhance infrastructure
Demonstrate fiscal responsibility
“We encourage you to peruse the entirety of this zero-mill increase bond update as it contains detailed information following this introduction. The proposed projects in this bond encompass a broad spectrum of needs within the district. Here is a summary of the opportunities at hand:
Safety & Security:
Addressing traffic congestion, lack of parking spaces, and separation of traffic and busing through enhancements
Replacement of outdated, unreliable security equipment at each building
Transportation:
Continued replacement of an aging bus fleet.
Academic Learning Spaces + Experience:
Replacement of original, aged classroom equipment and furniture at middle and high schools
Updates to original, outdated science areas at middle and high schools (excluding the newly renovated portions) to ensure students have state of the art experiences.
Fine Arts:
Upgrades to original seating, lighting, and media equipment at the high school auditorium.
Infrastructure:
Replacement of original, outdated lockers, bathrooms, various ceilings, and lighting at middle and high schools
Renovations to high school weight room including expansion to address overcrowding and scheduling issues for student-athletes and physical education courses.
Upgrade of aged building controls at middle and high schools (water, fire, HVAC, etc.) to provide the most efficient and safe environmental controls
Addition of cooling to main gymnasiums at middle and high school Student Athletic
Experience:
Renovation of aged high school locker rooms
Renovation of the high school stadium, including artificial turf, new entryways, expanded concessions
New high school track – the current track is backwards and nearly unusable in the current condition
Upgrades to worn baseball and softball fields
Relocation and construction of a new soccer field
Maintenance of existing practice fields; addition of a new outdoor practice space
New Construction:
Addition of a new middle school cafeteria to address overcrowding in the current cafeteria
Replacement of aged, quickly deteriorating tennis courts
Replacement of aged transportation building and maintenance building
Construction of a fieldhouse facility for indoor practice teams/band to address lack of 12-month practice space; available for community use
Construction of a student/community pool
“These opportunities for investment in the future of our students and community stem from valuable feedback from stakeholders, as well as facilities assessments,” the press release concluded.
