Martin Public School district voters will be asked in the Aug. 2 primary election to approve a $17.65 million bond proposal for up to 30 years.

The bond money will be used for massive physical improvements at the site for the high school, middle school and Brandon Elementary, add an auditorium and gymnasium and build new baseball and softball fields and relocate the football field. None of the bond money, by law, can be used for general operations or instruction, such as for salaries of teachers or staff.

The proposal is the result of a needs assessment developed last January by TMP Architecture and R.C. Hendrick and Son Construction. A special 33-member School/Community/Family Planning Committee, made up of staff, parents and community members, was formed to identify, analyze and prioritize infrastructure and program needs.

After two steering committee meetings, a building tour and one community forum last winter, the Board of Education March 21 voted unanimously to act on recommendations by moving forward with the bond election.

The $17.65 million will buy for the Martin school over 30 years:

• A new security camera system.
• New card access system.
• New lock down system.
• Partial replacement of entry doors, frames, hardware glass.
• New scroll reader for announcements.
• Replace select concrete walks and stoops.
• Upgrade science rooms.
• Upgrade band room to provide ADA access.
• Partial furniture replacement in classrooms.
• Partial flooring replacement in classrooms.
• Upgrade classroom lighting, including new efficient LED fixtures.
• Upgrade HVAC systems in classrooms, including new unit ventilators.
• Media Center remodeling into two collaboration rooms.
• New varsity gymnasium (including locker rooms), with community walking track.
• New wrestling room.
• New auditorium (400 seats).
• Upgrade plumbing, including new water heaters, drinking fountains, sinks and hand dryers in restrooms.
• Upgrade ventilation systems in the existing gymnasium, locker rooms, restrooms and wood shop.
• Upgrade HVAC systems, including new unit ventilators, boilers and partial air conditioning for IT rooms.
• Upgrade interior and exterior lighting, including new efficient LED fixtures and sensors.
• Main office renovation and addition.
• Exterior masonry and fascia partial replacement.
• Modify grade level at north entries to avoid flooding issues.
• Remodel restrooms to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Minor upgrades to Wyatt Center.
• Add storage space.
• Partial roof replacement.
• Partial replacement of kitchen equipment.
• Parking additions and upgrades.
• Purchase of land adjacent to the school campus.
• Relocated varsity baseball field.
• Relocated varsity softball field.
• Relocated junior varsity softball field.
• New track (eight lanes) and field facilities.
• Relocated football field and practice field.
• New irrigation system at football field.

According to wording on the ballot, the estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 5.94 mills ($5.94 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation).

A spokesman for the school district said, “Martin is currently ranked sixth of the 10 Allegan County School Districts when comparing total debt and sinking fund millage tax rate, and even if the proposed bond issue passes, we will still maintain that position.”

School officials promise that if voters approve the bond Aug. 2, work will commence immediately afterward. Construction would begin after design is finalized and bids received, with all work scheduled for completion by summer 2018.

The majority of construction work would be completed during the summer months and every effort will be made to minimize conflicts with instructional hours during the academic year.

The district does have one gymnasium and a multi-purpose room for athletic practices, but because of scheduling conflicts, athletic teams have to hold practices before and after school, with many practices as early as 6:30 a.m. or as late as 9 p.m.

“An additional gymnasium would ease practice overload, so multiple practices may occur during the same time and allow practices to end at a reasonable time,” a school spokesperson said. “Community sports would be able to use the facilities for practices without conflicting with athletic events. Martin Schools would be able to host games and continue with practice schedules.” Martin would also qualify to host MHSAA regional and quarterfinal events.

A walking track would be used by athletes for in and out of season conditioning. Community members would be able to utilize the track for personal wellness activities.

Martin’s wrestling programs use the high school cafeteria for all practices, which makes the cafeteria unavailable for other after school events. Wrestling team members run the hallways as part of practice, and this activity interferes with multiple events in the facilities…

“Having a designated wrestling room allows wrestling practice and individual meets to take place without interrupting other school events. Wrestling would be treated as a valued sport having an appropriate place to practice and compete.

Martin has an outdated diamond dust track on which students may practice, but all track meets must be held at away sites.

“Having our own track would allow Martin the ability to have an MHSAA approved practice facility,” the spokesperson said. “We would be able to host track meets, including MHSAA regional and state events.”

The track would also be available for community members to use it for personal wellness. K-12 physical education (PE) classes would use the track for PE and health curricula.

A new auditorium/multi-purpose room would eliminate the need for plays, music concerts, carnivals, holiday programs and kindergarten graduation to be held in the gymnasium.

“Martin has an active Odyssey of the Mind program with no place for general performances to take place,” the spokesperson said.