Plymouth-Canton Board OKs May 7 Bond Election
Board votes 4-3 to put $114 million bond question on May 7 ballot.
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With a new face on the board, the Plymouth-Canton Board of Education voted 4-3 Tuesday to pursue a $114 bond that would replace the outdated Central Middle School and offer technology and facility upgrades throughout the district.
New board trustee Kim Crouch, appointed three hours before the vote from a pool of four finalists, cast one of the deciding votes. She joined board president John Barrett, secretary Adrienne Davis and treasurer Sheila Paton in supporting the measure.
Crouch said she had been following the issue by watching video of each meeting and researching the facts before Tuesday's vote.
"I was pretty familiar with the issues that came up today," Crouch said. She said she had been following the bond since it was initially reported in November 2012.
Board treasurer Judy Mardigian and trustees Mark Horvath and Mike Maloney voted against the proposed bond.
Mardigian said she supported the upgrades in the package, but preferred the vote be held later to allow the district to drum up support and promote the benefits of the bond.
"May is really aggressive," Mardigian said. "It does not mean I’m against the bond. I'm very concerned about not getting it right the first time."
According to Brodie Killian, the district's executive director of business services, the district could only pursue $80 million instead of the proposed $114 million if it wanted to keep its goal of holding the debt levy at 4.1 mills.
That $34 million chasm was enough for Davis to emphatically insist the board support the earlier vote.
"I can't believe these trustees would walk away from $34 million," Davis said, referring to those who supported a later vote.
While Horvath said he would not stand in the way of the vote (he voted against the proposal only after it was determined it had enough board support), he wouldn't feel comfortable selling it to the public and answering questions about the bond's logistics and benefits.
Maloney shared similar sentiments.
"Right now, where I’m at, I would vote no tonight if question was to call for election in May," he said before the vote. "I'm not ready to answer questions I know citizens are going to ask me."
One sticking point with Maloney was a hefty technology proposal. The district proposes $15 million in technology upgrades, which includes equipping each student and teacher with an iPad tablet.
"I’m concerned about the technology plan and the capacity," he said.
Would you support this bond? Vote in the poll and let us know in the comments.
In This article
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Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
454 S Harvey St, Plymouth, MI -
Central Middle School
650 Church St, Plymouth, MI -
george belvitch
9:25 am on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Going forward with a bond proposal after a 4-3 board vote? Are you kidding?
Zeljko Deljevic
10:06 am on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
I don't support buying technology (iPads) that will become obsolete in 2-3 years with bonds that would be paying for these devices for 30 years. It's like getting a 100 year loan for a car that will only last 10 years.
Logic &Reason
10:29 am on Friday, February 8, 2013
That is not how the bond works, to start. More importantly though, it would be like saying you would never buy and car or teach anyone to buy a car because the second you roll it off the lot the value diminishes and a better car is already being made. Please view the presentation the administrative board of education put together and the middle school principals presentation before you decide your vote.
Jeremy Hughes
12:11 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013
Mr. Deljevic - Technology devices need to be paid off first with bond money. In the case of the iPads, they will be paid off within 5 years.
Brad Jensen
10:34 am on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
What is wrong with the Central Middle School that it can't be renovated? iPads for students? Really? What if they change districts or damage their iPads? Are they going to let them keep them or replace/repair them if damaged? Are the iPads going to replace books or what is the argument for them? You can't really use them for writing papers or learning programming. It seems that even if you don't consider the expense then laptops would be the better solution. In a day and age where everyone is being forced to make cuts, this seems excessive and isn't going to fly.
dswan
12:56 pm on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
According to the current trends, we'll have 500 fewer middle school aged students by 2016. Several elementary schools are under utilized. K-8 charter schools continue to pop up (without property tax bonds). My vote will be a solid no. If we need to close Central, move sixth grade back to elementary schools. The technology bond ought to be voted on separately.
Steve C
2:09 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
What is your reference for "current trends"? The auto's are growing. There is new development taking place in Plymouth Twp. Realestate experts are predicting close to a 20% increase home prices in this area this spring. I think we will start growing again.
However, I do agree with your K-8 charter School premise.
dswan
11:32 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
Steve C,
In a December 23 article titled "Enrollment could drive bond query," The Canton Observer cited studies that estimate 800 fewer P-CCS middle school age students by 2017-18. The full article is no longer available, you should be able to read an excerpt at:
http://search.hometownlife.com/sp?aff=1100&skin=&keywords=2017. This is based on the current enrollment at elementary schools - each new kindergarden class is smaller than the previous year. The lower birth rate is a national trend that's been consistent through multiple economic cycles. I'll concede it's possible we'll see an uptick though I doubt it will be enough to fill 5 middle schools for years to come.
Mike
2:47 pm on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Why waste money on a special election? Wait for November. The board’s lack of planning does not justify a secret ballot as most voters miss these elections.
Central is Fine, both of my kids went there.
IPads are a stupid waste of money with so many students on the assisted lunch program it is clear the taxpayer is still struggling to recover in this economy.
What is the depreciation rate of an IPad? Does it even qualify as Capital Equipment, or is it expendable and therefore should not be part of a Bond Issue.
Logic &Reason
10:35 am on Friday, February 8, 2013
Please view the finance presentation of the board meeting- it does address your concerns. Simply put- they way the bonds can be levied differs between the May and November elections. We have the opportunity to get $34 million more in May without any tax increase. This essentially will replace the tax of the previous bond. Plus, statistically the average home value rises 6% just by a district passing a bond. More people see that the community is investing in their future and will move there- then your tax would actually be less. This is a win for everyone.
JAK
3:52 pm on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
I have a 6th and 8th grader at Central. I absolutely love the team of teachers and staff that work there. I completely support their opinions of what is needed for our kids to sustain a better education. I have viewed the past board meetings and value the input from teachers and parents. It is upsetting that the issue to close Central is discussed so often and for so long and nothing is ever done about it. The facts were presented by the middle school principals at the last board meeting which gives the community a better understanding of why Central has the outdated issues (no air, limited electrical outlets, etc.) and needs to be addressed now. I personally would love to have Central renovated to the standards that benefit our teachers and staff and students. However, it seems unrealistic due to the amount of money needed. My kids love having Central centrally located in downtown Plymouth and hanging out with friends after school and supporting the local businesses (Cupcake Station, Subway and Dairy King). Plymouth Canton have exceptional teachers that want the best for our children, especially Central Middle School!
Logic &Reason
9:00 pm on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Before anyone votes it is vital to get all the information. This is an AWESOME way to impact ALL.
To address some concerns people have listed here:
Any reconstruction on Central will still not make it equitable to the other buildings & also cost prohibitive.
This is NOT about dropping enrollment: every study indicates that an ideal middle school climate is 750-850 students. Higher than that and the programs offered decrease and managing behavior becomes infinitely more difficult. Just waiting for enrollment to drop is admitting that we no longer can entice people to PCCS; we are ok with our district not being equitable to all students; & keeping 4 middle schools at 1,000 a piece- and that number is after 5 years from now.
This bond will change the middle school program to be equitable and allow STEM programs to be put in all middle schools and get a close, community bond with students at such an critical part in their lives.
Logic &Reason
9:00 pm on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Technology- student motivation goes up when technology is used- those students are out there. More importantly- technology is always changing-saying we should not invest because it will be outdated soon does not make sense-then we would never have it in the schools. Something that is SO critical to success in the modern world NEEDS to be taught in our schools as an integral part of the education process.
BOTTOM LINE- this bond will show the area we are the leading edge to make our students the most productive members of society they can be.
DG
11:58 pm on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
I would suggest the previous posters spend a little time watching the last 6-8 meetings as every one of these issues has been repeatedly addressed.
The vote was to move forward with a May vote or not. If it was 3-4 they wouldn't move forward. Thats the whole point of having a vote. If you needed a 7-0 vote with this group nothing of significants would ever get done.
Short term assets (tablets,computes etc.) CAN NOT be AND are not being financed over 30 years. There are different of sets (series) of bond being issued. None of which exceed the life of what they are funding.
One (small) reason for tablets is to replace books and reduce printing cost. If kids can type text 40+ wpm on a cell phone number keypad I think they ought to be able to write on a tablet.
Ispeakforkids
10:56 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013
I am proud to be a member of this community. I am thrilled to send my children to this district. We need to invest in our children and stand behind the staff and administrators. central Middle School is a piece of our community- however the children learning in that environment and programs it needs (STEM) are far more important!!!!!
Every child learns differently. Bringing technology into classrooms allows children to learn on a level playing field. They will be experiencing learning that makes them College and Career ready. It is an opportunity that we owe to our children. I am sure everyone has logistical questions regarding iPads being damaged or lost- and i know that these questions have been researched, studied, and discussed.
PCCS children deserve for our community members to be informed and ask questions with an open mind.
MathMan
10:30 pm on Sunday, May 5, 2013
An earlier poster noted that the iPads are not being financed over 30 years, which may be part of the accounting aspect internally. So... at a cost of $15 million (nearly $900 each), what is the plan to replace them when they are lost, stolen, broken or are deemed 'old'. Heck, we are told that a bus only lasts 10 years! What's the life expectancy of an iPad in the hands of a student. The reason books look so shabby is.....