Three school districts up north are asking voters to pay to improve safety, technology and buildings. Alanson, Elk Rapids and Manton school districts all have new measures on the ballot for next month’s election.
Last November, almost half the schools in Michigan were unsuccessful at getting voters to approve their bond proposals. That included Elk Rapids Public Schools, which lost by a narrow margin. They are back with the exact same proposal that includes security upgrades at all its buildings and a new high school gymnasium.
Manton Consolidated Schools superintendent Mark Parsons says their bond—almost $4.5 million—also includes safety upgrades and renovations to outdated buildings.
“We want to update our entrances and make them more secure so that we have more control on the entrance to our buildings,” he said. “We’re trying to make the case that if this passes, it can also help us save programs because some of this work would have to be done whether we get this bond or not.”
Voters will decide on Tuesday, February 25.
Mason County Central School District is also looking to renew their operational millage.