GLADSTONE — Gladstone Area Public Schools is seeking voter approval for two bond proposals that will ask taxpayers to provide towards interior and exterior school improvements, better playgrounds, new construction and security equipment. The ballot language has been approved and will appear in the local election in May.
A prior bond proposal from the school district last appeared on ballots in November 2023. When it failed, Gladstone Schools went back to the drawing board.
One major complaint about the last proposal was the scale of it — the district asked to borrow up to $35.39 million. The 2023 proposal was for a lot of things, many recreational, and some people took issue with that. Another concern was the undefined nature of what projects could potentially be funded.
Now asking for less money ($21.7 million) and divided into two items, the 2025 approach gives citizens the option of supporting one, both, or neither cause.
Both proposals pursue bonds, which are essentially loans from other parties paid back using taxes over time. Superintendent Jay Kulbertis said the expectation is for the debt to be paid off in 13 years and seven months, based on property tax assumptions.
The current debt from earlier school bonds is scheduled to be paid off in November 2026, and if neither proposal passes, the tax rate in Gladstone would decrease.
A community group called “Brighter Braves Future” is now involved in promoting awareness of the measures the school district aims to take. Member Margaret Noreus described the group as a “cross-section” of the community with business leaders, parents, the PTO, administrators from each of the schools, and one school board member.
PROPOSAL 1
The first bond initiative, for $16.9 million, is for general and specific needs at all the schools in the district: W.C. Cameron Elementary, which is from readiness kindergarten (pre-K) through second grade; James T. Jones Elementary, third through fifth grade; Gladstone Middle School, sixth through eighth; and Gladstone High School, ninth through twelfth.
One project that would be sought through Proposal 1 would be the construction of four classrooms at Cameron for free public early education. The readiness program currently offered at Cameron is a pre-kindergarten for children aged five; the State of Michigan encourages programs for three- and four-year-olds, too. Gladstone would like to begin to offer the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP), which is funded by the state.
Another construction project at Cameron would be for a multi-use facility to separate the cafeteria from physical education. Currently, one space is used alternatively as lunchroom, gym, and for Reading Buddies.
Other work that is to be achieved with Proposal 1 is for safety and security at the schools — intruder resistance and upgrades to fire alarms. New entrances with an emphasis on security would likely be built at the middle and high schools.
An exit-only lane at Cameron Elementary has been identified as needed to create a safer traffic pattern.
Playground upgrades — “equipping, preparing, developing and improving” — are on the bill, too, as well as new lockers and the replacement of worn furnishings at all schools.
The ballot language isn’t exclusive; it states that funds could be used for “erecting, furnishing and equipping additions,” plus “remodeling … refurnishing … and re-equipping school buildings” and “acquiring and installing instructional technology” throughout the district.
If only Proposal 1 passes, the current school tax rate of 5.75 mills is expected to remain for five years and then “steadily decline.”
PROPOSAL 2
The second bond proposal, for up to $4.8 million, is for a much more direct single request: “erecting, furnishing and equipping a multi-purpose addition to the high school.”
Such a facility would “deliver additional space to support academic, athletics, student clubs, extracurricular activities and community events,” according to material from Brighter Braves Future.
Kulbertis said that building the new space at the high school would also allow for Industrial Arts at the middle school. Presently, the wrestling team uses the middle school; by moving to the high school, their vacated premises at the middle school could be used for skilled trades training for sixth- to eighth-graders.
If only Proposal 2 passes, the current millage rate would remain for one additional year and then fall.
Brighter Braves Future hosted a forum to speak to the public about the ballot at Freshwater Tavern on March 9. Though it had a small attendance, Noreus said that they learned about some community concerns. Another similar meeting is planned for March 20 at Saunders Point Brewing at 6 p.m.
“Our goal in all of this is trying to have as many people in the community aware that the millage vote is taking place, and we are wanting people to have an avenue to ask questions,” Noreus said.
“We have partnered with this community group (Brighter Braves Future) to get the benefit of their collective input and effort,” Kulbertis said. “They were willing to do the homework and ask the hard questions in helping to dial in the specifics of the projects covered by this election, to ensure that it matched with what the community would support. We are grateful to them for their engagement with community members and the guidance they have provided in working toward a successful election.”
