Stakeholders will have a couple of chances this month, including an event tonight, to attend informational meetings regarding a $72 (m) million bond proposal for Dexter Community Schools.

The proposal, which seeks to raise funds to support renovation of district facilities, will come before voters on Tuesday, August 8th. Each year, the district puts together a 10 year facilities plan and bonds have been born out of both plans from the last two decades.

District officials created a renovation wish list of sorts by taking several factors into consideration, including the life cycle of their facilities, growing enrollment, and instructional needs. The community’s input was also sought through surveys and group forums in order to create the 2018 facilities plan. Superintendent Chris Timmis says their original renovations list was actually much more extensive then the final list that the bond would address.

The bond money would fund construction of a new K-2 building, technology and system upgrades, furniture, buses, technology, additional space at each building, a new band room at the middle school, athletic field updates, and renovations at the senior center and preschool program facilities.

The proposal seeks to maintain the current school debt millage rate of 8.5 mills by extending the rate five or so years before it begins to drop and taper off. Timmis says the district is good stewards of tax payer dollars, and that it is part of the traditional process to ask the community to help support district facilities.

An overview of the proposal and a time for questions will be the focus of a community meeting tonight at 7pm in the cafeteria at Creekside Intermediate School. A final meeting will also be held there on Monday, July 31st. More details about the bond proposal can be found at the link below. (DK)