New bond proposal looking to keep students safe, warm and dry

MUNISING — After the tax payers voted down a previous bond proposal by almost a three to one margin in May of 2016, the Munising Public Schools went right back to work on a new proposal.

“We’ve tried to get more input from the community. We did an online survey, had community meetings, we contracted with an architectural and engineering firm to do a facility assessment of not just the Middle/High school, but Mather Elementary as well,” said Superintendent Pete Kelto.

Following all of that, a new proposal was created and approved by the school board. The new bond is asking for 2.29 mills, almost a full mill less than the rejected bond. This means that under the new proposal, the average tax payer would see a seven or eight dollar tax increase each month.

All of the changes the district would implement revolve around three key ideas: keeping students safe, warm and dry.

“It would provide enhancements at both facilities. We’d be maintaining Mather Elementary and the middle/high school for the next several generations of Munising Public School students,” said Kelto.

Some of the enhancements include increasing security at the entrance of Mather Elementary, resurfacing the parking lot at the Middle/High School, upgrading the HVAC systems and repairing leaking roofs at both buildings.

More information on the proposal can be found at munisingschools.com. The district is also holding two more public meetings about the proposal: October 19th in the Middle/High School Cafeteria and October 25th in the Mather Auditorium. Both meetings begin at 7:00 p.m.

“We’re hopeful that our district tax payers see the need and do what we think is in the best interest of our students,” said Kelto.

Election day is November 7th.