Renovation of a mixed-use development in Menominee, Michigan. Completed plans call for the renovation of a educational facility.

https://www.ehextra.com/news/menominee-s-67-7-million-referendum-would-create-one-k-12-school/article_fd11b7dc-0d1f-11ed-8d73-9b686a7f958a.html Menominee's $67.7 million referendum would create one K-12 school MENOMINEE--When Menominee residents go to the polls Tuesday, they'll be asked to vote on two capital improvement proposals for Menominee Area Public Schools designed to create a K-12 school at the Junior/Senior High School to save money over the long term, due to declining enrollment. By consolidating public K-12 education on one campus, the plan is to save about $500,000 a year in expenses by closing two schools. "It's to be as fiscally responsible as we can--we're too big," said School Board President Derek Butler. "We have too many square feet and not enough students. We have to right-size." Enrollment has declined by about 35% over the past 15 years. The district currently enrolls about 1,181 students in kindergarten to 12th grade. As enrollment has declined, so has state funding, Butler said. The total cost of both proposals is about $67.7 million and could lead to an increase of 8.37 mills on each $1,000 of taxable valuation for property owners in the district. If both proposals were to pass, the owner of a home with a market value of $100,000 and an estimated taxable value of $50,000 would pay $317.50 more in taxes each year for the next 30 years, unless the debt was paid off early, according to information the school district has published. The plan would allow the district to turn the existing junior/senior high school into a K-12 school with a new, secured wing for elementary students, a new athletic facility, a updated Career Pathways Center for technical education and a performing arts center. The new career tech center will provide students with the skills employers are looking for, Butler said. "That to me is the trend of the future. We have employers crying out for skilled labor," he said. While committing to a large-scale project when enrollment is declining might seem counterintuitive, the district's older schools are in need of upgrades to be compliant with new regulations, new security measures and new educational programs. Butler said he's encouraged by the support he's received from the community. "I've heard very positive feedback from the public when I'm in the public," he said. But he also acknowledged the last time a major referendum passed in Menominee was in 1970 when the junior/senior high school complex was built. A referendum in 2020 failed at the ballot, and prompted a community survey that led to the 2021 referendum for $12 million that passed, Butler said. The school board voted unanimously to support this year's ballot proposals to right-size the district. "We've lost 35 to 38 percent of our student body since 2007 and because of that, that's a revenue loss of about $5 million. We've kept roughly the same fixed costs, the buildings," Butler said. Two buildings--Central and Blesch schools -will be closed or repurposed as the district combines on one campus, he said. Elementary students from Central and Blesch schools would attend the K-12 school, and Blesch Elementary School would be converted into housing and a performing arts theater. Central Elementary School would be torn down, Butler said. Investing in one combined school would provide educational advantages the district otherwise couldn't offer. For example, elementary and middle school students could take advanced classes in the same building. A year ago in a special election, voters said "yes" to a Menominee Area Public Schools referendum providing $12 million in capital improvements to the Jr./Sr. High School to replace roofing, windows and doors for energy efficiency, improve the lighting, heating and air conditioning systems, add security elements and improve the parking lot and sidewalk. Those improvements are under construction. Voters can vote "yes" or "no" to each of the proposals, which are listed separately on Tuesday's ballot for voters who live in the district. The first proposal allows the school district to borrow up to $41.5 million to build an elementary school wing onto the junior/senior high school building and refurnish the existing building with new technology and new playgrounds. The millage would increase 5.05 mills per on each $1,000 of taxable valuation for property owners in the district. The other proposal allows the district to borrow up to $26.1 million to create a new Career Pathways Center, Performing Arts Center and build a new athletics facility addition onto the junior/senior high school building. This project includes building a new press box, concessions and restroom structure at the track and football field and improving the athletic fields. The Career Pathways Center would add labs for construction, plumbing, electrical, cosmetology and computer-aided design and manufacturing. A lecture hall would be converted to a performing arts center, while the auditorium at Blesch School is expected to continue operating as a theater. The rest of Blesch would be converted to apartment-style housing, according to the plan. The district would save on maintain costs from operating separate buildings, and the expected $500,000 in annual savings could be reallocated into educational programs and salaries for teachers, Butler said. "I'm not trying to grow square footage. We're trying to be fiscally responsible. We're trying to optimize the junior/senior high school, which is the newest building," Butler said. _____________________________ Menominee Area Public Schools is seeking qualified contractors for the 2022 Menominee MI, Jr/Sr High Renovation Project located at Menominee Jr/Sr High School, 2101 18th St., Menominee, MI. These proposals will be evaluated with the recommended awards subsequently made by the district. The owner shall not open, consider or accept a bid proposal that is received after the date and time specified for bid submission in the advertisement for bids. Each bid shall be accompanied by a sworn and notarized statement disclosing any familial relationship that exists between the owner or any employee of the bidder and any member of the Menominee Area Public Schools board of education or the superintendent of the school district. A five percent (5%) Bid Bond shall accompany each bid. The successful bidder will be required to provide a Performance Bond and Labor and Material Bonds, and certificates of Liability and Worker's Compensation Insurance. The Menominee Area Public Schools reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to award contracts for individual items as they may appear advantageous to the District, and waive any or all formalities. Proposals received without proper signature will not be accepted.