District voters reject both bond referendum questions on the August 2 ballot.
Following the vote, the unofficial election results are:
Question 1: 1,128 YES (37%) and 1,956 NO (63%) and Question 2: 979 YES (32%) and 2,034 NO (68%)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Referendum 2022 results: Community rejects Phase Two Referendum questions

MENOMINEE, MI – August 3, 2022

On Tuesday, August 2, 2022, voters in the Menominee Area School District rejected both bond referendum questions on the August 2 ballot. Following the vote, the unofficial election results are: Question 1: 1,128 YES (37%) and 1,956 NO (63%) and Question 2: 979 YES (32%) and 2,034 NO (68%).

“We appreciate the support we received in the referendum and appreciate that this is a tough economic time. There are some difficult decisions to make ahead as we deal with significant budget issues from our decline in enrollment and continued needs with our facilities,” said MAPS Board President Derek Butler. “We are committed to reviewing the results, understanding the concerns of the community, and doing what’s best for kids.”

The district will continue to keep the community informed on the progress of the Phase One building projects at the Jr./Sr. High School.

Menominee Area Public Schools will hold a special election on Tuesday, August 2, 2022 seeking voter approval of two ballot questions, which if approved, would result in a $67,650,000 bond issue.
The first question would total $41,545,000 and the second question $26,105,000.

WHY NOW?
THE IMPORTANCE OF A PHASE TWO INVESTMENT

In 2020, we surveyed the community and learned that “district fiscal responsibly” was ranked as one of the highest priorities for the MAPS School Board. For this Phase 2 Referendum, we focused on rightsizing the district's buildings to a single K-12 campus to take advantage of operational savings. These savings, upwards of $500,000 per year, can be reinvested into our students, programming, and facility upkeep.

  • MAPS enrollment has dropped 35% in the past 15 years – that means a $5 million drop in revenue per year

  • MAPS needs to balance its budget for long-term sustainability

  • Makes long-term fiscal sense and reduces long-term costs to community

  • Strong schools enhance property values and economic vitality of communities

  • MAPS needs to address health, safety, and capacity concerns at Central Elementary

  • Community impact through relevant educational experiences and community use of facilities

BALLOT QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1:

Construct, furnish and equip a new PK-3 elementary school ADDITION to existing middle/high school building

Shall Menominee Area Public Schools, Menominee County, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Forty-One Million Five Hundred Forty-Five Thousand Dollars ($41,545,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefore, in one or more series, for the purpose of:

erecting, furnishing and equipping a new elementary school addition to the middle/high school building; remodeling, equipping and re-equipping and furnishing and refurnishing the middle/high school building; acquiring, installing, equipping and re-equipping the new elementary school addition to the middle/high school building and the middle/high school building for instructional technology; and preparing, developing, improving and equipping playgrounds and the site?

QUESTION 2:

Provide new and/or remodeled spaces at the high school including a new athletics facility addition and fields, and performing arts space

Shall Menominee Area Public Schools, Menominee County, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Twenty-Six Million One Hundred Five Thousand Dollars ($26,105,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, in one or more series, for the purpose of:

erecting, furnishing and equipping a new athletics facility addition to the middle/high school building; remodeling, equipping and re-equipping and furnishing and refurnishing the middle/high school building; erecting, furnishing and equipping a new press box, concessions and restroom structure at the track/football field; and preparing, developing, improving and equipping athletic fields and facilities and the site?

PROJECT SCOPE

QUESTION 1: PROJECT SCOPE

Construct, furnish and equip a new PK-3 elementary school ADDITION to existing middle/high school building

1) New Elementary School addition to current Jr/Sr High School (Central Elementary School removed upon completion)
2) New secure student entry at student drop off/pick up
3) New secure student entry at bus drop off/pick up
4) New safe student drop off/pick up with visitor parking
5) New parking lot with safe designated bus drop off/pick up
6) New elementary playground
7) New pre-kindergarten/early childhood playground
8) New outdoor learning lab
9) New wall with security doors to separate Elementary grade levels from Jr/Sr High School
10) Renovate existing classrooms and special education resource rooms with new storage, finishes, and furniture

QUESTION 2: PROJECT SCOPE

Provide new and/or remodeled spaces at the high school including a new athletics facility addition and fields, and performing arts space

11) New two-court practice gym addition with changing rooms and restrooms
12) Update existing athletic track, football field and new bleachers with concessions/restrooms to support competition events
13) Eight new tennis courts due to significant deterioration and cracking
14) New second restroom facility with updates to existing
15) Update existing single occupancy toilet room and add shower
16) New Career Technical Education (CTE) student locker area with breakout
17) New CTE Labs to support building sciences, cosmetology, and CAD/CAM
18) Updates to existing CTE Labs to support innovation and HVAC needs
19) Updates to existing CTE classrooms to provide visual connection to labs
20) Replace existing gym floor (can no longer be refinished)
21) Replace existing bleachers due to unavailable replacement parts
22) Renovate existing lecture hall into new Performing Arts Center (PAC) with ADA accessibility
23) New 2-station gym addition with changing and restrooms (will replace Blesch and Central gyms)

BUILDING AND PROGRAM CONCERNS

CENTRAL ELEMENTARY

  • Over-crowded and has significant building infrastructure needs

  • Lack of secure entrance

  • Inadequately configured safe bus and parent drop off / pick up area

BLESCH INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL

  • Operating and maintaining considerably more space than is needed as a result of declining enrollment

  • Has significant building infrastructure needs and has interior and exterior design issues that challenge its use for younger students

MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL

  • Operating and maintaining considerably more space than is needed as a result of declining enrollment

  • The Industrial and Tech Ed (CTE) area of the high school is over 50 years old and even though the world has changed considerably, this area has not been updated since the school opened in 1969

  • Remodel High School Lecture Hall into a multi-purpose Performing Arts Center for both instruction and performances from guest speakers to concerts/recitals, dance, and performances. Seating would accommodate 500-600 people.

ATHLETIC AREAS

  • Blesch Field needs to be reconditioned and the stadium complex has structural concerns that are costly to address

  • The track and tennis courts have not had significant work done since the mid-1990s and have deteriorated to the point there are potential safety concerns

  • The current gym floor and bleachers at the high school are original and over 50 years old. Bleachers are not ADA accessible and spare parts are no longer available.

WHY RIGHTSIZING IS FISCALLY IMPORTANT

"In 2020, we surveyed the community and learned that 'district fiscal responsibly' was ranked as one of the highest priorities for the MAPS School Board.

So, for this Phase 2 Referendum, we focused on rightsizing the district's buildings to a single K-12 campus to take advantage of operational savings. These savings can be reinvested into our students, programming, and facility upkeep.”

– Derek Butler, School Board President

  • MAPS enrollment has dropped 35% in the past 15 years. State funding is directly tied to enrollment numbers, therefore the district budget has been reduced by approximately $5 million per year as a result of decreased enrollment

  • MAPS needs to balance its budget for long-term sustainability and cannot afford to operate and maintain the same building square footage with decreasing enrollment and revenue

  • Enrollment = Capacity concerns at our buildings

    • Middle/High School is currently operating at 49% capacity

    • Blesch Intermediate School is currently operating at 45% capacity

    • Central Elementary School is currently operating at 150% capacity

  • Rightsizing = Operational savings

    • For this Phase 2 Referendum, we will focused on rightsizing the district's buildings to a single K-12 campus to take advantage of operational savings – approximate savings to be $500,000 each year

HOW DO WE RIGHTSIZE?

Over the last 10 years we have invested in required maintenance projects at our newest and largest building - the Middle/High School. This investment has come through the generous commitment of the community, first with the sinking fund and most recently, the Phase I referendum last year.

Due to the Middle/High School only being at 49% capacity, we have considerable space for additional students. Moving 4th, 5th, and 6th grades to this school will bring the capacity to approximately 80% which is ideal for flexibility and allowing for potential growth.

  • 4th and 5th graders would occupy their own space on the first floor of the south (middle school) wing. Because safety is our number one concern, this area would be independent of the rest of the building with locked doors requiring a key fob for entry.

  • 6th graders would be integrated with the 7th and 8th graders in a true middle school manner and would occupy the second floor on the south end of the building.

  • High school students would occupy both the first and second floor on the north end of the building, as well as the CTE wing.

Central Elementary School is overcrowded and has many issues from an infrastructure, design, and layout standpoint. Tearing down Central and adding on to the south end of the current middle school provides many benefits educationally and operationally.

  • Appropriate space and environment can be created for elementary students in grades kindergarten - 3rd grade. Space would also be added to accommodate Pre-kindergarten and early childhood students.

  • The new elementary addition would be connected directly to the 4th and 5th grade wing allowing for a truly integrated elementary school environment.

  • 4th and 5th graders would eat lunch and have Phy. Ed., Music and Art classes in the new elementary addition.