Bond Issue Facts and Rumors
FACT: The School District will lower the Debt Millage Rate from 11.12 mills to 10.00 mills, effective July 1, 2010. By refunding debt in August, the District has been approved to reduce our Debt Millage Rate by 10%. The Debt Millage Rate WILL NOT rise if the 2009 bond issue passes. While this is counter-intuitive, it is a fact. The State has permitted the District to reduce the debt millage thanks to the prudent debt management practices and by taking advantage of an opportunity to refinance debt last summer. Note also, that if the bond issue does not pass, the millage will still remain at 10 mills. Click here to see charts showing our projected debt millage rates and our annual debt obligations.
FACT: The District’s credit rating was upgraded in August, from “A” to “A+”. Standard and Poors rated the District in conjunction with the 2009 Refunding Bonds. The District’s rating was upgraded based on steady enrollment trends, strong wealth and economic indicators and prudent management of finances.
FACT: The 2009 Bond Issue is vital for DeWitt. The money invested in our facilities will provide desperately needed relief to the General Fund, the Fund that pays all our teachers, staff, utilities, transportation, etc. If we are not able to fund these much needed improvements through the bond, imminent needs will be paid with operating funds, reducing money available for the classroom. This is not a simple threat. This is reality. We have no other sources of revenue to fund these critical improvements.
FACT: We will add two classrooms at both Fuerstenau and Scott schools. These classrooms will provide much needed relief based on current and projected enrollment. RUMOR: The Bond Issue reflects “wants” not “needs”.
FACT: This proposal is a very basic, “bare-bones” issue. There are no lavish plans other than to fund renovations and improvements that will extend the useful lives of our facilities and meet the needs of our students and staff. Safety and Security are high priorities. We will improve control over access to the buildings and improve the flow of bus/car traffic. The bond issue will fund basic improvements such as: parking lot resurfacing, new roofs, new heating/ventilation systems, improve energy efficiency through the use of advanced climate control equipment, improve technology, replace aging boilers and install energy efficient windows where necessary. It will also improve athletic/physical education facilities. Furthermore, the District must go through intense scrutiny by the Department of Treasury before we can even put the issue in front of the voters. Treasury staff review our application, ensure we can justify any additions, ensure proposed renovations and improvement comply with the law, and ensure our budget estimates comply with State established construction guidelines. Only if we meet those standards will the State grant us permission to place the question on the ballot. The State and the District’s lawyers draft the ballot language, which much also comply with legal requirements.
RUMOR: The bond money should or may be used to pay salaries.
FACT: Bond proceeds are strictly limited to the projects approved by the Department of Treasury. The law prohibits the expenditure of bond funds on operating expenses such as wages/salaries, benefits or supplies.
RUMOR: We don’t need security upgrades or any security upgrades are because of the new custodians.
FACT: We no longer live in a perfect society, and even DeWitt is not immune from those who have ill intentions. We cannot take for granted the safety and security of our students and staff. Security improvements at our facilities include key card systems that have become common throughout all industries. A key card system eliminates the need for keys and controls/monitors access to our buildings. Key Card systems were recommended nearly five years ago, long before any discussions about privatization of custodial services. I consider it an insult to the good people working for GRBS and just trying to do a good job, that they are unfairly characterized as irresponsible and thieves. There is simply no basis for this type of personal attack.
RUMOR: The proposed Bond Issue spends $3.2 million on football. Click here to view a pdf file of the proposed improvements to the Athletic/Physical Education complex.
FACT: The proposed Bond Issue spends $3.2 million on our Athletic/Physical Education complex. Included in that amount are items such as:
• A New Track.
The photos here show the condition of
our track. The District has worked to maintain the track in a safe condition for
our students, athletes and visiting schools. However, the surface is old and
failing and these band-aid repairs do not provide long-term relief. An
insightful parent commented that we would never expect our basketball or
volleyball teams to perform on floors with missing boards, yet our track exposes
our students to that risk. We also lose the opportunity to host some competitive
meets, which results in less money flowing into the Boosters and our Community
at large. In fact, we lost the 2010 Conference Track Meet due to the failing
condition of our track.
• Resurfaced Tennis courts. Our tennis courts are in equally poor
condition and must be resurfaced. Again, we lose opportunities to host
competitive events because of these conditions.
• ADA Compliance. Currently, the path leading to the visitor bleachers
and those bleachers are not ADA compliant. We need to bring those facilities up
to current standards to accommodate the needs of our guests needing access. The
home grandstands do not have railings in the aisles. We need to add railings for
spectators who need additional support moving up and down the steps. We are
fortunate that our entire Community supports our students and the events hosted
at our stadium. We need to ensure we are meeting the needs of our Grandparents
as well as our children.
• Increased stadium capacity. New grandstands will be added to both the
home and visitor sides of the stadium.
• A new Team Room. A new Team Room will be constructed at the southwest
end of the stadium. This will provide a facility for use by Tennis,
Cross-Country, Track, Football, Soccer and any other sport using the fields.
Currently, the Team Room is not located where it is ideally accessible for teams
other than football. Locating a facility near the tennis courts and cross
country trail will provide emergency shelter and better storage for many of our
student athletes.
• Improve the upper level walkway.
If you attend any event, you
undoubtedly have noticed the condition of the walkway between the Press Box and
the toilet rooms. The surface is failing, uneven, and unsafe. Repairs have been
made, but they are not enough. We need to resurface that area to ensure safety
for all of our guests.
• Improved Field Drainage. The football field underdrain system will be
replaced and the grass replaced. Despite the improvements funded with the 1996
Bond Issue, the field drainage system is not functioning optimally, severely
limiting use of the field. We need a field that can stand up to the use demanded
by Band, soccer and other sports. Improving drainage is a key step. The District
intends to open the field to more use once these improvements are completed, and
then closely monitor conditions to ensure safety for users and quality of
conditions are maintained.
• FACT: The Bond does NOT include a budget for a synthetic surface!
Although the arguments for a synthetic surface are compelling, the District has
listened to a majority of residents who feel this would be a very divisive
issue. There is a private fund-raising effort underway that would provide the
money to install turf, but at this time, the funds are not available.
• Move the concession stand. The concession stand would be removed and
the current Team Room converted to a concession building. The Toilet Rooms would
be improved.
• Repair the Press Box. The masonry foundation of the press box has
cracks that must be fixed. These are structural issues we must address