Townsend North Preschool

Good morning, Vulcan Community! Due to cell phone outages in the area, Vassar Public Schools is unable to receive or place calls to cell phone users. We are able to call 911 and landline numbers if there is an emergency. Intersession will continue as planned. While crews work to get this problem corrected, please email the following office staff for assistance today: Central School: lliparoto@vassar.k12.mi.us 6-12: jwilcox@vassar.k12.mi.us Athletic Counceling Office: jwhitney@vassar.kq2.mi.us Superintendent's Office: sesterline@vassar.k12.mi.us Have a great day!

In-person voting continues through February 25! Contact your local clerk for hours and locations. If you requested an absentee ballot, please complete it and return it to your local clerk’s office. For more information on the ballot proposals, visit www.vassar.k12.mi.us.

Why are renovations to Townsend North included in the bond proposal? Townsend North is a building owned by Vassar Public Schools. This building is used for storing district records that must be kept according to record retention laws, additional storage needs, athletic practice spaces, and school district meetings, and a portion is leased to the State of Michigan to operate the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) and Head Start. Since Vassar Public Schools does not operate a preschool program, leasing a portion of the building to GSRP and Head Start programs provides valuable preschool services to 32 area children. Revenue generated through the lease for the GSRP program helps offset utilities and other operational expenses. Part of the lease agreement is maintaining the building and playground and providing food service. Most Townsend North families who enroll their children in GSRP and Head Start programs tend to register their children in Vassar Public Schools when they begin kindergarten. This keeps residents of Vassar Public Schools attending our school district, benefiting the school district for years to come through the foundation allowance the school district receives for each student enrolled. Since Towsend North is still a property used by the school district and a portion of the building is rented to State of Michigan agencies, Vassar Public Schools must keep the building in good working order. The bond proposal will address the aging roof, replacing HVAC systems, adding an emergency generator, upgrading the playground (the brick walkway will remain with this update), replacing the service drive, and adding storage units for instructional material.

Where can I get information about voting (such as how to register, where to vote, and absentee voting)? Go to the Michigan Voter Information website (www.michigan.gov/vote) or call your local clerk’s office.

Who can vote in this election? Residents of Vassar Public Schools who will be 18 years of age or older on Election Day and are registered to vote can vote in this election.

We invite our Vulcan community to join us tomorrow from 5-6:30 in the 6-12 Auditorium for a town hall meeting about the upcoming bond proposals.

What will happen if voters don't approve the non-homestead renewal and restoration millage? All Michigan school districts must ask voters to approve a non-homestead property tax. If school districts don't follow this procedure established by the Michigan Legislature, they will not receive their full foundation allowance.

How much revenue will the non-homestead replacement millage generate? The non-homestead millage is projected to generate approximately $1,046,417.36 per year. This revenue makes up 5% of the school district’s operating budget.

How will the non-homestead renewal and restoration millage impact farmland? The impact on farmland depends on whether the farmland is part of a residence (primary homestead) or on a non-homestead farming property, the percentage of the land that is farmed, etc.

Join us for a Town Hall meeting in the 6-12 auditorium on Tuesday, February 13, from 5-6:30 to learn more about the upcoming bond proposal. This is an excellent opportunity to get your questions answered. If you cannot attend and have questions, don't worry; email us at eraymond@vassar.k12.mi.us or call 989-823-8535 option 1.

What is a non-homestead renewal and restoration millage? A non-homestead renewal and restoration millage supports the school district’s general operating budget. The operating budget covers everything necessary to provide educational programs and services in Vassar Public Schools. The non-homestead replacement millage is not levied on primary residences (the home in which a homeowner lives); it only applies to businesses, second homes, vacant land, and rental property. All school districts in Michigan must levy 18 mills on non-homestead property to receive their full foundation allowance. In all Michigan school districts, the 18 mill non-homestead levy is subject to rollbacks per the Headlee Amendment to the Michigan Constitution. While school districts cannot levy more than 18 mills on non-homestead property, Vassar Public Schools is requesting approval of an additional .5 mill non-homestead levy to protect against future rollbacks when they occur.

The second proposal on the February 27 ballot is a 10-year, non-homestead renewal and restoration millage proposal. This millage does not impact the taxes on primary residences (the home in which a homeowner lives).

Improving the facility infrastructure • Upgrading and constructing restrooms Improving facility sites/exterior improvements • Updating the parking lot to improve drainage

Upgrading technology • Installing Wi-Fi for the bus parking lot Purchasing furniture and equipment • Purchasing two buses

Improving the facility infrastructure • Adding stair handrails in the auditorium to address safety issues • Adding storage closets to support the drama program • Adding a vape detection system in restrooms Updating mechanical and electrical systems • Improving ventilation in the locker rooms • Replacing the boiler to improve heating • Replacing HVAC systems in the weight room, gym, and cafeteria and adding air conditioning • Replacing HVAC controls to integrate the variable refrigerant flow (VRF) to create individual cooling and heating zones • Adding a generator to support food coolers and freezers during power outages Improving facility sites/exterior improvements • Replacing the baseball/softball scoreboards with an energy-efficient LED system • Updating the softball/baseball bleachers to replace the wood bleachers that are deteriorating • Replacing lighting at the football stadium to provide better illumination • Replacing an electronic sign at the front of the building for school announcements • Replacing football scoreboard with an energy-efficient LED system Purchasing furniture and equipment • Installing a multi-use display to improve viewing at school events • Adding storage units for educational/classroom instructional materials • Replacing broken weight room equipment that is used by gym classes and sports teams • Replacing wrestling mats with roll-up mats for easier storage Upgrading technology • Installing innovative touch screens to support the educational and athletic program • Updating Wi-Fi/technology at athletic fields • Installing a portable, remote network cameras to support live streaming at events

Updating mechanical and electrical system • Replacing HVAC systems in the gym and cafeteria and adding air conditioning • Replacing HVAC controls to integrate the variable refrigerant flow (VRF) to create individual • cooling and heating zones • Adding a generator to support food coolers and freezers during power outages Improving facility sites/exterior improvements • Resurfacing the walking path that students use to walk safely around the building and for • exercise during recess, PE class, and before and after school programs • Adding new bleachers to replace the wood bleachers that are deteriorating • Adding an electronic sign to the front of the building for school announcements • Replacing the service drive to update the crumbling surface Purchasing furniture and equipment • Adding storage units for educational/classroom instructional materials

Improving the facility infrastructure • Replacing the 20-year-old roof Updating mechanical and electrical systems • Replacing HVAC systems in the gym and cafeteria and adding air conditioning • Replacing HVAC controls to regulate heat and air in classrooms • Adding a generator to support food coolers and freezers during power outages Improving facility sites/exterior improvements • Adding an electronic sign to the front of the building for announcements • Upgrading the playground • Replacing the service drive to update the deteriorating surface Purchasing furniture and equipment • Adding storage units for educational/classroom instructional materials

What will happen if voters do not approve the bond proposal? The bond projects cannot be completed as proposed. If necessary, emergency repairs or updates will come out of the operating budget, taking away funds from the student educational program.

Why is the purchase of buses included in the bond proposal? Purchasing school buses through the bond proposal relieves pressure on the general fund operating budget. It also ensures that the Vassar Public Schools’ bus fleet will be systematically upgraded as buses reach the end of their useful life. Two school buses will be purchased with the bond proposal revenue which will reduce the number of school buses leased by the school district.

How can approval of the bond proposal not raise the current tax rate? Vassar Public Schools will extend its debt for the entirety of the bond, which will not require any tax rate increase to complete the projects.