A bond renewal request for Sturgis Public Schools failed at the May 5 election.
According to preliminary results from St. Joseph County clerk, the request was rejected by a vote of 1,501 to 1,277, or 54 to 46 percent.
An extension would have maintained the millage rate at 7 mills, and allow the school district to borrow up to $98 million for various initiatives.
Potential funding was targeted for numerous projects and upgrades, including a new aquatic center, classroom improvements, renovation of restrooms, roof replacements, installation of secure entryways and updates of athletic facilities.
Superintendent Art Ebert expressed disappointment.
“While this is not the result that we were hoping for, we are grateful for the rich dialogue that we had throughout the bond proposal process,” Ebert said in a statement. “We are further thankful for (the) turnout, with 2,778 individuals from across Sturgis and the surrounding townships weighing in at the voting booth.”
What is the next step for the district?
All projects contained within the bond proposal will require either an alternative funding source, be reduced in scope with an alternative funding source or not be completed, Ebert said.
The most feasible options of new funding sources include: A revised bond proposal; a revised building and site sinking fund; use of operational funds; and grants.
In the absence of a revised bond proposal, it is unlikely that all of the projects can be completed, Ebert said. That’s due to several reasons:
- Building and site finding funds are capped at 3 mills at 10 years.
- Operational funds are prioritized for teaching, learning and personnel.
- Grants typically don’t fully fund large-scale projects.
“I feel that we went about building and communicating the proposal the right way,” Ebert said. “Having said that, this will provide us with an opportunity to engage with the community further to build a proposal that truly represents the wants and needs of our full community.”
