By By KATHIE HEMPEL / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Voters will go to the polls on May 8 to decide issues facing area school districts.
"What we hope to make completely clear is the difference between our bond proposal and that of other area districts like Niles and Cass. The biggest thing is we will be able to raise $5.75 million without raising the mil rate our area is currently paying. To me this is the biggest difference between our proposal and those asking for new bonds," Robb DeJonge, co-chair of the Brandywine Pride committee said.
DeJonge, co-chair Tina Newman and Karen Weimer, principal of Merritt Elementary School, presented details of the bond issue at the Niles Senior Citizens Center on Thursday.
"We need people in our area to clearly understand that no increase in millage is being asked for. We are simply requesting a renewal of the bond already in place to continue with the needed improvements for our schools and students," Newman said.
The original bond proposal was passed on June 5, 2003, for a millage rate of 4.85
Being levied to generate $14 Million for improvements to three of the district's buildings. Construction began in the summer of 2004 and was completed by April of 2005 on time and under budget.
The May 8 request will not lengthen the time of the 2003 bond, still scheduled to end in 2028. It continues to cap the millage at 4.85 and utilizes the refinancing of the 2003 bond.
If passed, Brandywine Elementary School's area designated as "Unit C" will see the completion of a changeover to hot water heat, with a renovation of the instructional space by upgrading windows, insulation of walls. A new floor and bleachers are slated for the gymnasium and there will be an area separate for car student pick-up from that where buses load and unload students.
"Currently, parents have to drive through the Fulkerson Baptist Church parking lot to pick up their children from the school. The church has been so very gracious in allowing us to do that, however we need to be able to do that at the school. The new plan, if implemented will allow a bigger loop for cars to pull in totally away from the bus area. It makes for greatly increased safety for our kids, particularly in bad weather," DeJonge said.
The Middle/High School will also benefit if the bond is passed. "Unit C" here will see a completion of overhead water piping. Upgrades and renovations to locker rooms and the band and choir rooms are also scheduled to be completed, if the bond is approved.
The Bell Education Center would benefit with a replacement of the building's roof.
Other projects could also be completed if the bond proposal passes and the districts prudence again leads to a balance once the slated projects are completed.
For now the committee continues to clarify the lack of increase in millage to voters like Ed and Mary Dunley.
"We thought it might end now. On a fixed income any taxes are more difficult. We have no children or grandchildren left in school, but we need to do what we need to do. Taxes are something we have to pay," Mr. Dunley said.