MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – After two years of both state and independent studies conducted across Marquette Area Public Schools’ (MAPS) seven school facilities, over $100 million in infrastructure and building system needs were found.
Throughout the fall of 2025, a survey was taken by Marquette community members, who had a look at six different options for how to tackle the necessary improvement funds. This led MAPS’ Board of Education to ultimately adopt a $59 million bond proposal, in which Superintendent Zack Sedgwick says was well adjusted after a large amount of local input throughout the process.
“Overall, the feedback was very positive, our parents and our staff were especially supportive,” he said. “When we took into account non-parents and non-staff, it brought that weighted average down, but it was still over 53%, which was very favorable.”
The plan stretches across the district, focusing on keeping students safe, warm, and dry, with one location in particular at the top of the priority list.
“Bothwell [middle school] has proven to be the building with the most critical infrastructure needs, most notably because of their second floor,” explained Sedgwick. “We are looking at doing an addition to Bothwell, which would allow us to do a total reconfiguration, redesign of that second floor.”
The district has chosen an approach of two phases of 14 years, totaling 28 years at a 1.55 mill tax impact, added to a current 1.31.
“We’re still 3.86 roughly, which is less than the state average, and still less than some of our neighbors,” said Sedgwick.
MAPS is planning on holding a number of town halls directly in the buildings these projects are planned in beginning in March, according to Sedgwick. Throughout the spring, MAPS will continue to share more information across social media and on its website, before voters take to the polls on May 5.
Questions can be directed to mapsinfo@mapsnet.org or 906-225-4200.
