Troy Schools Take Bond Information on the Road

The 9/30/13 Troy-Somerset Gazette published an informative article, Troy Schools Take Bond Information on the Road. I've copied and pasted the contents of the article below. In addition, I've uploaded pages 1 and 9 from the same issue so that you can view the article in it's original format. Click here to download those two pages.

Troy Schools Take Bond Information on the Road

Proposed bond issue will have a ZERO effect on the school’s tax rate. If you asked a local real estate agent why people want a house in Troy, it probably wouldn’t be for our 900+ acres of parks, or the stability in the government, or even the city’s enviable AAA bond rating. Most young people want a home in Troy because they want their children to attend the highly acclaimed Troy schools.

A good school system contributes considerably to the value of your home. But like all of us, the Troy School District has to take care of the 23 buildings it owns in the city. And, these are not new buildings. The last elementary school opened over 30 years ago, and the “new” Troy High turned 21 years old recently.

Just like your home, keeping those buildings in good repair takes money. And, yes, the Troy School Board could use its general operating funds for repairs and furniture and new computers or to pave a parking lot or put into new security systems to keep the children safe in this world. But that would mean taking funds away for the actual work of educating our children. Even those funds have decreased sharply over time. Before the dramatic decrease in property values of the recent recession, the district had as high as $9,523/a year per student to educate the kids. But this is foundation grant controlled by the state of Michigan, and today that number is $8,805 per student.

Over the past 11 years, the Troy Board of Education has cut costs by over $62 million. But now there are things that need to be done in several areas. The board has been studying how to enhance the physical needs of the district for the past two-and-a-half years. They believe the best way is through a $125 million bond issue, which will be on the November 5 ballot. The school’s debt rate was 4.95 mills and has dipped to 4.7 mills this year. If voters approve the new bonds, which will be issued in stages and paid off before the items they buy are worn out, the rate stays the same... a ZERO increase to the current rate. Superintendent Dr. Barbara Fowler is hosting public meetings to explain the need for the bond issue. If you missed last week’s meetings there are two more this week:

Wednesday, October 2: Smith Middle School (5835 Donaldson)

Thursday, October 3: Larson Middle School (2222 E. Long Lake Road)

Dr. Fowler is also available for other speaking engagements.

There are five areas where the bond money would be spent:

• Safety and security
• Technology
• Facilities and sites
• Instructional equipment
• Buses

At a meeting at Baker Middle School last Tuesday, Dr. Fowler provided extensive examples of work that needs to be done. At Boulan and Larson Middle Schools, for example, they need to move the offices up to the front of the school from of the middle to screen incoming visitor. The district also needs everything from upgraded software to new wiring, and better wi-fi, too. And poor Larson has had a leaking roof for a number of years. It will be replaced this year, but that cost is $1.3 million. If the bond issue does not pass, the money will have to be taken from operating funds.

In addition, it is well to know that bond money cannot be used for operating or consumables and it cannot be used to pay salaries. But it can be used for new windows, or band instruments, or a new roof or furnace. Every school in the district is slated for some upgrades. If you want to see the upgrades for your child’s school, it is on the website at www.troy.k12.mi.us. If you have questions about the bond issue, sent them to: troybond2013@troy.k12.mi.us.