CLICK TO HEAR JACK HALL’S INTERVIEW WITH SUPERINTENDENT JAY KULBERTIS
The Gladstone Area Schools plan to put a bond issue before voters in November.
Superintendent Jay Kulbertis says they’re looking to improve all of the district’s facilities. He says the proposal extends the bonds that were sold nearly three decades ago to build the new high school building.
If voters approve the proposal on Nov. 7, the bonds will be resold and extended for another 30 years, and the tax rates for residents would actually drop, to 5.75%.
“It’s a way to kind of think long-term, be real strategic, and really continue our current needs, and our future needs,” Gladstone School Superintendent Jay Kulbertis told RRN News. “What we want to be able to do is to make improvements to our facilities to better meet the needs of our students, and lock in a lower tax rate. That’s what this proposal does. We’re thinking of it as a win-win-win.”
Kulbertis says that among other things, they’d use this moneyto expand STEM programs into the junior high level by moving the varsity wrestling facility from downtown to the high school. He says they also want to enhance their handicapped-accessibility.
“Our buildings meet the ADA (Americans With Disabilities) standards,” Kulbertis said. “But from having students with crutches or in wheelchairs, we see that we need to do even better for them.”
The superintendent says they also want to upgrade security systems, in particular, at the high school building.
“We’ve kind of jerry-rigged a buzz-in system to get people into the building,” Kulbertis said. “But once people are buzzed in, they can go anywhere in the building. We’d like to change that, so when you’re buzzed in, you come to the office, and then we decide where you need to go.”
There’s also plans to improve the traffic flow around the Cameron Elementary School, where pick-up and drop-off times often see chaotic congestion.
Kulbertis says there will be a meeting next Wednesday, October 18th, where people can get information and ask questions about the proposal. You can also get more information by listening to the interview that we posted at the top of this page, and to read some of the Frequently Asked Questions below that we pulled off of the school’s web site.
School Bond Frequently Asked Questions
Why Now?
The previous debt is close to being paid off and the Board of Education is actually lowering the tax rate from 5.90 mills to 5.75 mills with this opportunity This is an excellent time to get much needed student improvements and additions while decreasing the tax rate for our taxpayers.
What Does It Cost Me? Since the tax rate actually will be dropping, there will be a savings from the current tax rate. Bond proceeds CANNOT be used for: general operating expenses and maintenance. Classroom textbooks or educational materials. Administration, professional or support staff benefits, salaries and/or wages
If the bond passes, when will work begin? Most work will commence the summer of 2024. Schools and hospitals have a different life code as determined by the State of Michigan. Relevant stakeholders (i.e. teachers, parents, community members) will be involved in the final design aspects. All school design has to be approved by both the Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC) and the Bureau of Fire Safety (BFS). The architects will work with the stakeholders to determine the best design for your school (all designs must be submitted and await approval by the BCC & the BFS), statewide bidding must be done by law, contactors must be interviewed to ensure all work is to be done correctly, and contractors are scheduled to begin work in Spring, 2024.
You can find out more by visiting www.gladstoneschools.com .
Scope of Work
– Cameron Elementary
– Jones Elementary
– Junior High School
– High School
– Auxiliary Facilities
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