GWINN, Mich. (WZMQ) – Last month, the voters in the Gwinn Area Public School District voted down a $30 million dollar bond proposal for renovations to the high school/middle school complex. Superintendent Dr. Sarah Croney wants to know why.
She held an informational session before and after tonight’s school board meeting to listen to residents’ comments about the failed bond proposal.
The bond proposal would have paid for a new roof, a new gym, new classrooms, and a long list of improvements to the combination high school, middle school facility. Superintendent Dr. Sara Croney believes that after the voters turned it down three times, it’s time to reevaluate that list.
“You have to consider what our community can afford? I’m not angry, I’m not sad. I’m trying to get a school repaired,” said Dr. Croney.
Croney says that fear played a big part in the defeat of the proposal.
“When they say no, it’s because there’s fear of what the cost is going to be for their taxes,” said Dr. Croney.
A big sticking point that split the community was the cost of a new gym. For many residents, that was seen as an unnecessary expense.$
“The community is saying is they don’t want to pay for a gym,” explained Dr. Croney.
A common issue was that of attracting and retaining students, something Abby Pickett sees as directly related to athletic facilities.
“What’s going to keep students in our district, and what’s going to bring new families to our district? And that’s the extracurriculars. And we really have to look at that, even though some people think, well, that’s not education. It really is,” said Pickett.
Gwinn resident Melissa Derby believes the board should start with the things that are truly essential.
“If you start with the need of a new roof, and they actually see you put forth that money to the roof, and it gets fixed. Let’s do that, then we’ll go on to something else,” said Derby.
It’s now up to the Board of Education to decide a way forward for the Gwinn Area Community Schools.