MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Marquette Area Public Schools is inviting the community to learn more about a nearly 60-million-dollar bond proposal that will appear on the May 5th ballot. The Marquette Area, Public Schools is asking residents to approve a nearly $60 million bond. It is hosting two town hall meetings designed to give the public an inside look at the district’s long-range facilities plan.
“We have over 750,000 square feet of buildings. Our building’s average age is 60 years old. We have seven buildings that house students. Many of the systems in those buildings are outdated. Some are actually original equipment,” said Marquette Area Public Schools Superintendent Zack Sedgewick.
District leaders say aging infrastructure is the driving force behind the proposal. Independent facility studies identified more than $100 million in needed repairs and system replacements across the district, far more than the annual $1.3 million sinking fund can cover.
“We’re trying to be fiscally responsible. We’re also trying to be responsive to a survey that we gave out back in September, the information that we got from the survey we used to create this scope, to create this proposal,” said Sedgwick.
If approved, the 59.995 million dollar bond would focus on three main priorities: safety improvements, such as upgraded security systems and ADA accessibility. Infrastructure upgrades, including heating, ventilation, and electrical systems, and modernizing learning environments.
“So we asked the community. We heard them say, hey, let’s start with that $60 million base plan. We’ll have to address the other 40 later,” explained Sedgwick.
Every school building in the district would see improvements tailored to its highest priority issues, with district officials emphasizing the plan is meant to protect taxpayer investment while creating safer future, ready learning spaces.
