Board Sends $22.825 Million Bond Application to Treasury for Approval

The Ferndale Board of Education took the next step on a proposed school improvement bond by unanimously approving Monday night to send the application to the Michigan Department of Treasury.

. It includes infrastructure updates such as asbestos removal from , heating and cooling systems for buildings and a kitchen area for .

"(Treasury) has 30 days to formally approve the (application)," Ferndale Schools Superintendent Gary Meier said. "The next step to put this bond issue on ballot would be in December, when (the board will) take action to put it on the February election. On Dec. 19, the board will ultimately determine whether or not the ballot issue will occur on Feb 28."

The district’s consultants, TMP Architecture Inc. and George W. Auch, assisted in determining what projects needed improvement. The original list of project included about $26 million in immediate improvements and $14 million in alternative projects.

Board member Nancy Kerr-Mueller expressed concern that time was running out to properly campaign for the bond.

"Is someone setting up a campaign?" she asked Meier. "We're 90 days away from the election."

"I'll be talking at each of the schools about the facility's needs. And there's been a couple of individuals expressing interest in helping with the coordination of the bond issue (campaign)," he said. "I'll call on those individuals for a broader committee to begin the process. But the actual decision (on whether the bond will go on a ballot) won't come until December."

Kerr-Mueller replied: "(We need to) get moving on providing information to the public as soon as possible and getting as much information out there."

Next step: At the Dec. 19 Board of Education meeting, members will decide whether or not to put the bond on a Feb. 28 election ballot. The meeting takes place at  at 7 p.m.