Greenville Public Schools Superintendent Linda Van Houten presents to the school board Monday about plans for upgrades to not only Baldwin Heights but all buildings in the district if a $50 million bond is approved by the board and by residents of Greenville in a special vote in May 2017. The bond would raise the tax levy 1.4 mils to bring it up to 7.4 mils in total ($7.40 per $10,000 of taxable value). — Daily News/Emilee Nielsen
GREENVILLE — Greenville Public Schools officials are inviting the community to talk turkey — and not because of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.
The district is preparing to present a bond proposal to the community which, if passed, will yield $50 million over the next 20 years. Funds would be used for a variety of improvements throughout the district’s buildings.
During Monday evening’s regular meeting, the school board heard from Superintendent Linda Van Houten and Brad Hemmes, vice president of Grand Rapids-based GMB Architecture & Engineering, about upgrades that would be made throughout the district over the next four years in terms of safety and security, furniture, infrastructure and other areas.
If approved, the bond would levy a 1.4 mil ($1.40 per $1,000 in taxable property value) increase to Greenville residents as well as residents of Eureka, Montcalm, Spencer, Oakfield, Fairplain, Sidney and parts of Otisco townships, which would bring the total millage rate for the Greenville Public School district to 7.4 mils. Taxpayers are currently paying at a rate of 6 mils, or $6 per $1,000 of taxable value. The total of 7.4 mils is equivalent to $370 per $50,000 of taxable property value or $740 per $100,000 of taxable value.
The school board will vote in December on whether to go forward with the bond. If approved, the bond will be put to school district residents for a vote in May 2017.
According to Van Houten, community members have been sent postcards inviting them to take part in an online survey to give feedback on what they feel are the most important priorities for improvement in the district. The survey is open until Nov. 30.
Community members have also been tapped to attend open forums to share their priorities and to hear more about what changes would be implemented if the bond is approved.
Van Houten and Hemmes presented plans for upgrades to each of the district’s buildings. One priority all of the buildings have in common is the revamping of the motor skills rooms, which are among the most underutilized rooms in each of the elementary schools, according to Hemmes.
“We want to remodel them into a makers’ space, which is a kind of collaborative learning area,” Van Houten said. “That would be a learning area all the kids could use.”
School board member Ron Billmeier asked if changing the purpose of the room from development of motor skills to a collaborative learning environment would negatively affect students.
Hemmes said changing the space in each of the elementary buildings would boost productive use of time and maximize the space in each of the buildings.
Other priorities include reassessing the pickup and drop off areas at Lincoln Heights Elementary School, Walnut Hills Elementary School and most of all at Cedar Crest Elementary School; purchasing new furniture for each of the buildings; and remodeling and updating bathrooms districtwide.
“You have been good stewards of the resources that you have,” Hemmes said. “You’ve gotten things that have lasted a long time. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s time (to make some changes).”
Another issue discussed was the fact that many of the buildings have unclear entrances, as well as uncertainty about the locationn of the main office. Clear signage pointing visitors in the right direction was an option discussed to fix the issue as well as the possibility of relocating some main offices to be closer to main entrances.
Van Houten said another priority is to expand the cafeteria at the middle school because that area too easily becomes congested and chaotic. She said what should be a positive time for students to socialize can be dampened by the busyness of the cafeteria and waiting in long lines for food.
Community members are invited to attend forums at noon Nov. 28, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 30 and 6:30 p.m. Dec. 8 to learn more about the bond and school district priorities. All forums will take place at the Central Services building at 1414 Chase St.