NORWAY, Mich. (WLUC) – Voters will decide whether to pass a bond proposal for Dickinson County Schools in the Nov. 5 election.
In a small space above the Norway High School gymnasium, the district’s largest air handler spins away. This entire system is the only air handler for a high school gymnasium and was installed in 1966. The motor has been replaced multiple times through 2020.
Chuck Pellegrini, facilities manager for the Norwegian Balkan Area School District, said upgrading schools’ air systems could save money in the long run.
“We’re not going to spend money refurbishing old technology or investing money where we’re not going to get a return on investment,” Pellegrini said. “On the other hand, if you update all of these things, your operations will be much more efficient.”
The bond ballot language asks voters to approve up to three mill levies for up to 20 years.
If fully taxed, the owner of a $100,000 home would pay $300 a year.
Norway-Balkan Regional School District Superintendent Lou Steigerwald heard residents’ concerns about the bond price tag during an open house last week.
He said rising prices have narrowed school choices.
“The honest answer is that there was inflation here in our costs, just like there was inflation in everything else,” Steigerwald said. “And the norms we have to follow in school are different than the norms we have at home. Obviously, our buildings are used more frequently, so the regulations tend to be more stringent.”
Steigerwald said the proposal on the ballot would replace an older proposal with similar language without a net increase.
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