Dearborn Board of Education Approves November Election Date for SMART Bond

Dearborn Public Schools is moving forward with its SMART bond proposal following approval from the Dearborn Board of Education on Monday.

The board voted 7-0 to put the proposal on the Nov. 5 general election ballot in order to give district officials more time to meet with residents and garner feedback about the bond.

The district is asking voters to approve up to $76 million for a 20-year period to help pay for capital improvement projects, including $600,000 for security improvement projects, $800,000 for maintenance, $3.6 million for 30 new buses, and $12 million for technology. The rest of the bond is earmarked for additional projects as needed.

Prior to the board's vote, Trustee James Schoolmaster proposed putting the bond issue before residents on the Aug. 6 ballot.

"I move that we put the proposal on the August ballot because if it passes the schools can receive necessary improvements sooner," Schoolmaster said. "It will also decrease the number of staff layoffs by freeing up more dollars in our general fund allocated for capital improvement projects."

Schoolmaster said the low interest rate on the bond market currently was also a deciding factor in his motion.

Trustees Hussein Berry, Aimee Schoelles, Joseph Guido, and Roxanne McDonald disagreed, stating that they would prefer a later election date.

"Since our last meeting, I've heard from some of our residents and I think we're rushing this issue to be honest. We need more people involved when we're asking for a millage this big," Berry said. "People don't have the information. They'll support us but they need the information."

Survey shows support for November election

Superintendent Brian Whiston said district officials began meeting with building teachers, staff, parents, and the public last week to discuss the bond. In addition, the district set up a website dedicated to providing information to the public.

An online survey completed by 105 residents revealed that 28 percent of survey participants preferred an election in November, while 24 preferred an August election, according to David Mustonen, communications coordinator for Dearborn Public Schools. Roughly 50 percent of the surveys were not completed or did not indicate a preferred date.

Trustee Aimee Schoelles agreed with Berry, stating that the justification to hold an election in August in order to collect money faster to help alleviate layoffs is irrelevant because bond funds cannot be used for general fund purposes.

In addition, Schoelles said by moving the election to August, it limits the board's ability to properly initiate a request for proposals from local architectural firms to design the project's scope.

"In this day and age, with a $76 million bond, we should be bidding those services out," she said. "I don't think we should chose an architect based on our urgency to get something done on the ballot."

Trustee Guido echoed Schoelles' concerns, stating an election in November would increase the chances of better voter turnout.

"I'm totally in favor of the bond, but I think the timing is better for the general election," Guido said.

Schoolmaster amended his motion to move the proposal to the November ballot, with 7-0 approval from the board.

Whiston said he still hopes to have a completed list of projects for the bond in front of the school board by May 13.

According to Mustonen, a voter-approved bond would not increase the current 5.81 mill rate taxpayers are currently paying due to the retirement of existing bond debt.

Community members can find out more information, leave comments, ask questions, and engage in a constructive dialogue on a district website dedicated to providing information only on the 2013 SMART bond, http://iblog.dearbornschools.org/2013bond/.