Romeo Community Schools
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
About the May 3 School Bond Election
When is the election?
Tuesday, May 3, 2016. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.
What is on the ballot?
Voters residing within the boundaries of the Romeo Community Schools
will vote on a bond proposal to fund updates, renovation, and construction
in six general areas:
1. Improving student safety and school security
2. Constructing additions to the RETC to make it the new Romeo High
School serving students in grades 10, 11, and 12
3. Converting Romeo High School into a new middle school serving
students in grades 6, 7, and 8 (The current middle school will be
demolished and the site will be restored.)
4. Converting Powell Middle School into an academy that will serve all
9th grade students
5. Completing renovations and upgrades at all elementary schools
6. Upgrading the school district’s athletic facilities
All bond proposal projects have been reviewed and approved by the
Michigan Department of Treasury.
Why is this election necessary?
The primary purpose of the election is to enhance student safety and
security while implementing the school district’s long-range facilities plan.
The bond proposal on the May ballot is an outgrowth of the school district’s
strategic plan.
How will the bond proposal benefit students and the community?
The bond proposal will benefit students by enhancing safety measures at
all schools. It will upgrade school facilities and enhance the learning
environment, and it will protect the community’s educational assets.
The bond proposal will support continuation of a long-range facilities
plan which will assure that the learning environment is up-to-date and the
schools and school facilities are upgraded, renovated, and kept in good
repair.
All bond proposal projects are designed to reflect positively on homeowner
property values and the community’s enviable reputation.
What will the bond proposal cost?
If voters approve the bond proposal, the current tax rate will not change
because the Board of Education will not levy the 1.25 mill sinking fund that
was approved in November 2015.
What’s included in the bond proposal?
If approved by voters on May 3, the following projects will be completed at
each school.
New Romeo High School
The RETC will be renovated to become the new Romeo High School. This
will require…
n Constructing new classrooms, a media center addition, an auditorium,
new student dining and kitchen facilities, and athletic facilities
n Renovating existing spaces to accommodate new classroom spaces
n Upgrading flooring, ceiling tiles, and lighting
n Renovating media center to accommodate new classrooms
n Relocating and securing the school office and school entrance
n Install classroom and media center AV equipment and instructional
technology
n Replace worn out furniture in classrooms, the media center, the
cafeteria, and school offices
New Romeo Middle School
Romeo High School will be converted to the new Romeo Middle School. This
will require…
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
Upgrading flooring, ceiling tiles, and lighting
Renovating Life Skills area
Renovating student lockers
Upgrading fire alarm system
Upgrading gym bleachers
Relocating and securing the school office and school entrance
Replacing roofing
Renovating the media center
n
n
n
n
Installing instructional technology in the Life Skills are and media center
Replacing worn out classroom and media center furniture
Parking lot and sidewalk replacements
Upgrading the tennis courts
Current Romeo Middle School
The current Romeo Middle School will be demolished and the site will be
restored to its original condition. Architects and engineers say that it is not
feasible to remodel the school, educationally or financially. In short, the
school has exceeded its useful life.
Powell 9th Grade Academy
Powell Middle School will be converted to Powell 9th Grade Academy. This
will require…
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
Upgrading flooring, ceiling tiles, and lighting
Upgrading casework
Relocating and securing the school office and school entrance
Renovating the media center
Upgrading the fire alarm system
Replacing roofing
Replacing worn out classroom and media center furniture
Proving additional parking
Selected sidewalk replacements
Amanda Moore Elementary
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
Relocating and securing the school office and school entrance
Upgrading flooring, ceiling tiles, and lighting
Updating HVAC controls
Upgrading the fire alarm system
Upgrading the kitchen
Upgrading casework
Replacing roofing
Replacing worn out classroom, media center, and office furniture
Parking lot and sideway replacements
Hamilton Parsons Elementary
n Relocating and securing the school office and school entrance
n Upgrading flooring, ceiling tile, and lighting
n Upgrading the fire alarm system
n Upgrading the kitchen
n Updating HVAC controls
n Replacing the boiler
n Upgrading casework
n Replacing worn out classroom, media center, and office furniture
n Parking lot and sidewalk replacements
Hevel Elementary
n Relocating and securing the school office and school entrance
n Upgrading flooring, ceiling tiles, and lighting
Indian Hills Elementary
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
Relocating and securing the school office and school entrance
Upgrading flooring, ceiling tiles, and lighting
Upgrading the fire alarm system
Upgrading the kitchen
Making the art and music room barrier free
Replacing the boiler
Upgrading casework
Replacing roofing
Replacing worn out classroom and media center furniture
Parking lot and sideway replacements
Washington Elementary
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
Relocating and securing the school office and school entrance
Upgrading flooring, ceiling tiles, and lighting
Replacing windows
Upgrading the fire alarm system
Upgrading the kitchen
Upgrading casework
Replacing the boiler
Replacing worn out classroom and media center furniture
Parking lot and sideway replacements
Croswell Center
n Replacing the boiler
Transportation Facility
n Constructing an addition and bus wash at the current bus garage
n Some demolition of the old addition to the bus garage
Barnabo Athletic Field
n Constructing new concession, ticket booth, toilet facilities, team room,
and storage
n Installing synthetic turf
n Resurfacing track
n Upgrading site utilities
n Upgrading parking and pavement
n
n
n
n
n
Upgrading bleachers
Install a bus loop
Replacing the scoreboard
Upgrading the press box
Replacing the public address system
Memorial Field
n Relocating the running track on the same site
What will happen if voters do not approve the bond proposal?
The bond projects cannot be completed as planned.
Will all bond proposal revenue stay in the Romeo Community Schools?
Yes. All revenue from the bond proposal will stay in the Romeo Community
Schools. None of the revenue will go to Lansing or to any other school district
or political entity.
If the bond proposal is approved by voters, will property values be
affected?
Real estate values tend to be higher in communities with school districts
that offer a quality education program and have up-to-date school facilities.
Property values tend to be lower in communities that do not offer an adequate
curriculum or that have schools that are out of date and poorly maintained.
Why is the sinking fund that was approved in November not going to be
levied?
After reviewing school district finances in December, financial advisors
informed the school district that the bond proposal would not raise the current
tax rate if the Board of Education did not levy the sinking fund that was
approved in November 2015. This means that the school district will be able to
do substantially more work, as detailed above. The Board of Education is on
the record with a resolution saying that the sinking fund approved by voters in
November 2015 would not be levied if the bond proposal is passed in May.
How can a four-year sinking fund levy pay off a 25-year bond?
The sinking fund was approved for four years and the bond proposal is for
25 years. The bond will be paid by not levying the four-year sinking fund.
Meanwhile other school district bonded indebtedness is being paid off and
expiring. That will keep the tax rate at its current level.
What is a “9th grade academy”?
Ninth grade is a pivotal year for adolescents because their success in high
school often depends on getting the right start. The 9th Grade Academy is
designed to ease the transition to high school by housing 9th grade students in
their own location with specific programming that is designed to help them be
successful in high school.
Will all Romeo 9th graders go to the Powell 9th Grade Academy?
Yes.
Where’s the swimming pool?
The swimming pool will remain at its current location.
Where will RETC students attend school?
RETC students will continue to attend school in the current facility.
What athletic facilities will be upgraded?
Home and visitor bleachers will be expanded, the football field and running
track will be resurfaced, a new team room will be constructed, and the
concession stand and restrooms will be replaced with a new facility.
Why are administration offices being moved to Powell?
The current Administration Building is old, costly to maintain, and
underutilized. There is adequate space in other school district locations where
administrative offices can be housed more efficiently.
What will happen to the current Administration Building?
It will be sold.
If the bond is approved, what will be the grade configuration?
There will be one high school to serve all students in grades 10-12, one
middle school to serve all students in grades 6-8, one “academy” to serve all 9th
graders, and five elementary schools to serve students in grades K-5. Croswell
will remain a center that serves preschoolers.
Will the new grade configuration be affected by demographic changes?
Like most school districts, Romeo’s student enrollment has declined.
Projections are that student enrollment will remain stable or decline slightly
until at least 2021. The new grade configuration will position the school district
to accommodate this projected student enrollment.
What is the difference between a bond and a sinking fund?
A bond is a State-approved funding process that specifies a set scope of
projects. When voters approve a bond, the money specified in the bond
proposal is borrowed and the school district makes payments over a period of
years, much like a homeowner pays a mortgage. Bonds are usually issued for
20-30 years. If voters approve the May 3 bond proposal, the Romeo bonds will
be issued for 25 years.
Bonds can be used for:
Constructing new school buildings
Constructing additions to existing school buildings
Remodeling existing school buildings
Energy conservation improvements
Land purchases
Site development and improvements
Athletic and physical education facility development and improvements
Playground development and improvements
Refunding debt (if new present value savings can be demonstrated)
Direct bond program costs such as professional fees, election fees, issuance
costs, qualification fees, insurance fees, final audit costs
School bus purchases
Loose furnishings and equipment purchasing
Technology purchases limited to hardware and communication devices that
transmit, receive or compute information for pupil instructional purposes only.
The initial purchase of operating system and customized application software is
allowed if purchased with the initial hardware.
Bonds cannot be used for:
Repairs, maintenance, or maintenance agreements
Supplies, salaries, service contracts, lease payments, installment contracts
Purchasing automobiles, trucks, or vans
Portable classrooms purchased for temporary use
Uniforms
Textbooks
Upgrades to an existing computer operating system or application software
Computer training, computer consulting, or computer maintenance contracts.
A sinking fund is a financing initiative that gives a school district flexibility
in meeting its individual needs. The project list is not specified in detail and a
school district can add and subtract projects as needs arise or go away. Unlike
a bond, sinking funds can be used for repairs and maintenance. They cannot
be used for technology or transportation related items. Sinking funds are
usually approved for 10 years or less. Both bonds and sinking funds are
audited separately from the general budget to account for every dollar spent.
What technology is included in the bond proposal?
All technology upgrades included in the bond proposal are designed to
support classroom instruction and enhance the learning environment. A
primary focus is to establish and implement a process that assures standard
technology is available in every classroom.
Can any of the bond proposal funds be used for employee salaries or
operating expenses?
No. Bond proposal funds cannot be used for employee salaries. They also
cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs or other operating expenses.
Bond proposal funds must be used only for purposes specified in the ballot
language, and, as required by State law, they must be audited.
How are Michigan’s schools funded?
The bulk of the funding to operate Michigan’s schools comes from a
foundation allowance paid by the State of Michigan. The State collects 6.0 mills
from every homeowner in Michigan. For businesses and people with second
homes, the State collects an additional 18.0 mills. This revenue is then divided
among public schools in Michigan. The amount returned to each public school
district is their foundation allowance. This school year, Romeo’s foundation
allowance is $7,608 per student.
Does the foundation allowance follow the student?
Yes. If student enrollment increases, the State’s foundation allowance
payment
is increased by the amount of the enrollment increase. Similarly, if
enrollment declines, the State’s foundation allowance payment is decreased by
the amount of the enrollment decrease.
This is also true for Schools of Choice students. If a student living in the
Romeo Community Schools enrolls in another public school district, that school
district receives the foundation allowance payment that would have gone to the
Romeo Community Schools. Similarly, if a student from outside the Romeo
Community Schools enrolls in the Romeo Community Schools, the Romeo
Community Schools receives the foundation allowance for that student.
Who can vote in this bond proposal election?
Anyone can vote who resides in the Romeo Community School District, will
be 18 years of age or older on Election Day, and is registered to vote by April 4.
Where can I register to vote?
You can register to vote at any Secretary of State office or at the Clerk’s
Office where you reside. You can download a voter registration application at
www.michigan.gov/documents.
Do I need to update my voter registration?
You need to update your voter registration if you have changed your name or
address since the last time you voted. You can do this at any Secretary of State
Office or at the Clerk’s Office where you reside.
Where do I vote?
You will vote at your regular school district precinct. If you are unsure of
your precinct, call the Romeo Community Schools at 586/752-0225.
Can I vote by absentee ballot?
Registered voters can vote by absentee ballot if they meet one of the following
requirements: 1. They expect to be out of town on Election Day; 2. They are 60
years of age or older; 3. They are unable to vote without assistance at the polls;
or, 4. They cannot attend the polls due to religious reasons.
Absentee ballots will be available to voters after March 19.
After March 19, voters can complete their absentee ballot application and
vote in one stop at their Clerk’s Office. The whole process takes less than five
minutes.
The Clerk will mail absentee ballot applications to residents on the
permanent absentee voter list before or shortly after March19.
Remember, you can get more information about the election by...
A. going to www.romeo.k12.mi.us and clicking on School Election
Information
B. calling any Romeo school principal
C. calling Superintendent of Schools Eric Whitney at 586/752-0225 or
sending an email to Superintendent Whitney at
[email protected]
D. Going to www.romeo.k12.mi.us and clicking on Talk to us anytime, day or
night.