I wanted to offer you som
e corrections to the information you posted Monday night regarding our bond proposals vote.
I agree there was not much discussion and by the way, the closed session (as stated by the board but guessing some did not hear or understand) was to briefly discuss the teachers’ contract extension that was also added / approved at the end of the agenda.
The new elementary school in our proposal is for grades 4-5, not the K-5 school that was also considered. The first proposal would also address the basic infrastructure needs of the district, including items related to health and safety, academic/instructional and technology needs, mechanical and roof upgrades, and improvements to parking lots, drives, and drainage. Also, because the 4-5 school is designed for more students, the net cost is about $54 million.
This is the next step toward our anticipated May 2, 2017, bond vote. Based on the board’s action last night to determine the proposed scope and various proposals, that information now goes to the Michigan Dept. of Treasury as part of our Preliminary Qualification Application. We have an appointment with the Dept. of Treasury officials in early January, and then once approved, the board would vote in early February on the actual language of the respective proposals.
When we get official approval from Treasury, we will begin providing specific information. In the meantime, we have already begun drafting some Frequently Asked Questions/FAQs to address the many questions we anticipate from our parents and citizens.
We’ll keep you posted as this process continues.
Norm Taylor, Superintendent, Wayland Union Schools
Sounds like that should have just been said that at the meeting instead of this cloak and dagger routine. Good luck with this failure of a bond proposal if this is how you plan to do business and treat the voting public.
To describe this as a cloak and dagger routine is amazingly naïve. The school board and administration were very open about seeking public input during the process. There were multiple public forums that were generally well attended and all had opportunities to express their opinions. There are many who may not like the result of the process and will vote no when they have a chance. But to express an opinion that this was done behind closed doors is patently false.