Community joins in on third of four focus sessions to discuss school bond
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ALPENA -- Alpena residents and Alpena Public Schools students and staff grouped together on Monday to collaborate on prioritizing projects for the proposed $29 million bond proposal.
The $29 million bond proposal was introduced at a June 15 workshop meeting by Clark Construction Company and IDI. The proposal would be placed on the May ballot, if pursued by the APS Board of Education.
The money will be spent on renovations and upgrades to current facilities.
If approved by voters, the millage rate would remain the same as the district's existing 1.8 mills that it currently levies to pay off the 2020 safe, warm, dry bond.
APS most recently passed a bond proposal in 2020, which gave them approximately $34 million to spend on numerous upgrades across the district's facilities. Upgrades began in the summer of 2021. The main bond work was completed in summer 2025 with renovations at Alpena High School.
The district’s existing debt millage is 1.8 mills, and it is expected to drop to 1 mill after the 2026 debt levy. If the board were to pursue a 2027 bond proposal and voters were to pass it, the debt levy would remain at 1.8 mills until 2037, The News previously reported. The debt from both bonds would be paid off by 2052.
Monday's community focus group regarding the potential bond was the third of four sessions that Alpena residents and APS staff and students have participated in.
At Monday's session and at the Oct. 26 session, residents reviewed current renovation needs at each of the district's sites that were identified in a facilities assessment. At the Oct. 26 session, the focus groups reviewed the district elementary schools, and at Monday's session they reviewed the needs of Thunder Bay Junior High, Alpena High School, the central office building, Sunset School, and the transportation office.
Attendees ranked each of the renovation needs from one to four depending on how much of a priority they believed a particular item should be.
Facility assessment results show over $40 million worth of work needed for facilities upgrades and renovations. Putting a number to priorities will help narrow down the options to bring the total work cost down to $28 million.
The assessment results showed aging clock and public address systems, fire alarms, and emergency lighting need replacement across multiple buildings.
Facade upgrades, window and door replacements, and floor and ceiling replacements are also needed at multiple buildings.
A new athletics training facility could potentially be a bond project, and would cost about $3.6 million.
The AHS auditorium could also be totally refurbished with the bond for a cost of an estimated $6.1 million.
Other projects that could be done at AHS include adding lifts at each wing of the high school and in the gymnasium to meet ADA compliance.
The transportation center is in need of a roof replacement and upgrades to the staff lounge, restroom, and office area, as well as upgrades to vehicle exhaust systems..
On Monday, Superintendent Dave Rabbideau said that in the transportation office it smells like the bus is sitting right there. He said there would be some health benefits to making sure that space is exhausting correctly.
In discussion at one of the tables on Monday, group members placed a high importance on replacing PA and clock systems and fire systems.
They also placed a high importance on reconfiguring the TBJH site to make pick-up and drop-off safer and less congested for students and parents.
For the elementary buildings, the community focus groups prioritized these projects:
*Replacing fire alarms at Ella White Elementary and Lincoln Elementary.
*Replacing windows at Besser Elementary.
*Replacing exterior windows at Hinks Elementary, Sanborn Elementary, and Wilson Elementary.
The next contenders for priority are:
*Upgrading facade and block infill at Ella White.
*Replacing sewer line at Besser.
*Upgrading Facade at Hinks.
*Replacing classroom HVAC at Sanborn.
*Replacing HVAC in kitchen and classrooms at Wilson.
*Replacing clock and PA systems at Lincoln.
Rabbideau listed the steps that will be taken from now to election day to put the bond on the ballot.
The bond project's scope must be completed by Nov. 23 to prepare the Pre-Qualifying Application (PQA) for the Michigan Department of Treasury.
On Dec. 16, there will be a meeting with the Department of Treasury, and a Board of Education meeting on Dec. 21 for approval of the PQA.
On Jan. 25, the board will meet to approve the resolution to call for the election.
The filing deadline for the call for the election with the county clerk is Feb. 9.
The campaign window will be from February to May.
In February to April information will be distributed about the bond projects.
In April to May voters will go to the polls, with election day on May 4.
There is still one more community forum to attend this fall. It will be at 5:30 p.m. on Monday in the Wildcat Den at AHS.