Several responses (which turned out to be quite lengthy) from us regarding some comments generated by the posting for the last building tour as part of our efforts to inform the community about the bond proposal.... First, we welcome opinions posted on our page, whether they are pro or con. We just asked that they be respectfully worded. We would also like to request that those with differing opinions treat everyone with respect, as well. If individuals desire to go back and forth about their differences, please take that conversation to another forum. 1) Regarding the comments about having a solid plan: We have engaged the services of professionals in the industry, Plante Moran Cresa. We have a 101 page facility assessment and a 111 page bond application with 300 line items specifically spelled out and costs estimated to the nearest dollar for each line item. These documents are available to view on the districts website for your thorough review. Several community meetings have been held to share information and tours have been held at each building to allow everyone to see, with their own eyes, the issues with our facilities. All questions directed to us at Bedford Public Schools have been addressed either at those meetings, direct conversations, or submitted through the [email protected]. If you continue to have doubts about the thoroughness of the assessment of the assessment, the application, etc., you are welcome to contact Paul Theriault, Plante Moran Cresa Vice President at Paul.Theriault@Plantemoran. I am sure he would be willing to respond to your concerns. Mr. Theriault can also speak to any concerns about the accuracy of the budget in place. This is also a finite amount of money. We can not go over budget. Plante Moran Cresa would also be retained as an owners rep to ensure that all promised work is completed, is completed using quality construction methods and materials, and is completed within budget. 2) Regarding the comments about the plan changing: Once this bond is approved voters, we will be obligated to follow through. Audits will happen throughout the process to ensure our compliance. In fact, Carol Densmore from the School Bond Qualification and Loan Program of the Michigan Department of Treasury accompanied Superintendent Mark Kleinhans on a walk through our district this week as part of her duties to related to this bond process. Mr. Kleinhans reported that she was a bit taken aback at the state of our facilities considering our academic reputation. She agreed that the need was there and our bond was appropriate. 3) Regarding the question about why we would have closed SRE and continued to use DRE if there are beam issues: SRE does not have the same classroom/student capacity of DRE. SRE can only replicate that capacity with the construction of an addition. When SRE was closed, it was in reaction to a funding cut that was unanticipated in its extreme nature. An immediate solution was necessary to offset that cut so we were forced to make decisions within the parameters of our existing facilities at the time. The bond would allow us to once again use a building in much better shape once the capacity variable is removed. 4) For clarification of what exactly the dollars specified at SRE will provide, please consult the bond application for ALL the details besides the addition and construction of a secure entrance. 5) Regarding the question of redistricting: Nothing has been decided yet. That would be putting the cart before the horse at this point without voter approval. However, current district boundaries will most likely be reevaluated with the use of different facilities than currently being used. For example, a student living across the street from SRE would go to a different school if adjustments are not made. A common sense transportation plan would be developed that would take into account routing logistics as well as parent input. The difference between this time and past school closings is that we have the luxury of time. The earliest any students would be shifting to a new facility would be September 2016 since we would need that time to design and construct the replacement facilities. That would also allow 2 years and 5 months for families to acclimate to the idea and discuss with school officials any concerns that would need to be taken into consideration. In some cases it may be a moot point as the students could be old enough to be junior high students by that time. Regardless, transportation plans would not be finalized until the summer of 2016 in that case to reflect the most recent enrollment numbers. 6) Regarding the stadium comments: Bedford Public Schools owns the land and the stadium, is legally responsible for the associated loan payments from its construction, and provides all the maintenance of the facility. We are very grateful for the many hours and many dollars that private citizens have put into raising the funds to pay for the bulk of the construction and financing though. And when tough economic times made it hard for those people to continue to contribute to fully meet the needs of those financial obligations BPS must honor, we were grateful that Grogans Towne offered a means for us to pay our debt without having to use General Fund dollars meant for the classroom. In exchange for payment from Grogans Towne, we will keep their name on the stadium for another 9 years until July 31, 2023. 7) Regarding what is Plan B if this doesnt pass questions: Our immediately reality becomes a situation where any repairs and maintenance must become self funded. We will have $0 dollars coming into the district to contribute towards any capital improvement projects since both the sinking fund and previous bonds are done and will be coming off of your tax bills. Funding from the state of Michigan only goes to the daily operational expenses, or General Fund, associated with the education of children: paying teachers and staff, paying our regular utility bills (water, electricity, gas, etc.) and the purchase of supplies. That money for operational expenses is generated from sales taxes, goes directly to Lansing and is then passed back in amounts that they set. Once they set that amount, the school district can then make their budgeting decisions for that school year. In Michigan, communities are expected to fund the expenses of capital improvements that go beyond daily or general maintenance. That money comes from local property taxes in the form of sinking funds or bonds. The money is generated locally, stays here in Bedford, and benefits Bedford. It also cannot be used for General Fund expenses and is audited to ensure that it is used as it was intended. In the event that there are no property tax dollars to use, which would be the case if the bond would not pass, any repairs or improvements must be paid for from the General Fund which covers our daily expenses. Our immediate reality most likely will become a scenario of reactionary maintenance; wait for something to happen, repair with the bare minimum of expense, and then discuss how to cover the repair cost with a budget cut elsewhere. Repeat until a tax passes. The Board of Education has decided to go with this proposal because they believe it is needed for one of the following reasons: safety and security, there are savings to be gained from efficiency (such as energy savings), it will contribute to improved academic performance in supporting an appropriate learning environment, or that aging infrastructure needs to be replaced as it is at the end of its useful life. In some cases, the infrastructure has far exceeded its useful life. This was the case in a boys restroom at JRE repaired over spring break. The urinal plumbing had deteriorated to the point that waste was leaking directly into the soil under the flooring. Another example of meeting the end of its useful life are the 2 buses that were removed from our bus fleet over spring break. The frames of those buses from 1996 and 1997 were beyond the point of repair and were deemed unsafe for continued use. We will need the replace buses at a cost of roughly $100,000 each. Without a bond, $200,000 must be deducted from the General Fund. We do not want to further deplete our educational resources and that ultimately becomes our bottom line: every dollar spent on repairs and maintenance is a dollar NOT spent in the classroom.
Posted on: Fri, 02 May 2014 19:14:06 +0000
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