Voters show support for local school districts at the polls – The Oakland Press

Oakland County voters showed their support for their local school districts at the polls Tuesday by approving three separate school bond proposals.

Avondale and Bloomfield Hills approved bonds for school improvements, while Madison voters approved the continuation of a school tax.

Only a small portion of the county, Addison Township, voted on a school improvement proposal for Almont that failed.

Almond

Almont voters again rejected bond proposals for school improvements.

Following the failure of a $58.2 million bond in February 2024, Almont Community Schools announced in April that the district will seek a new two-part school improvement bond.

The first part would address infrastructure and asked for $22.6 million over 15 years. The second part asked for $10.5 million over 10 years. It would cover additional educational space and air conditioning upgrades at Orchard Elementary School and Almont Middle School.

Both proposals failed in four different electoral districts.

In Lapeer County, the first part failed with 1,169 votes against and 749 votes in favor, and the second part failed with 1,193 votes against and 721 votes in favor, and the only district in Oakland County rejected the proposal with 30 votes against and 8 votes in favor for both parties.

Two precincts in Bruce Township in northern Macomb County voted 262 to 145 on both sides, and a single precinct in St. Clair County rejected both proposals by a total of 399 to 202.

Avondale

A $150 million bond renewal for the Avondale School District, which will fund a “complete overhaul” of the district, according to Superintendent Jim Schwartz, passed easily.

The final count was 3,351 votes in favor (65.1%) versus 1,796 against (34.9%).

“We thank the voters of the Avondale School District on behalf of the Board of Education and the more than 3,800 students served by our school district,” the district posted on its website the following morning. “We will keep Avondale families and residents informed in the coming months as we continue to enhance educational programs in the Avondale School District.”

Emphasizing that this was not a tax increase, the school improvement bond will keep the current tax rate at 7.3 mills or less for the next 25 years.

“There is not a person, a student or a family in this district that is not going to be touched by this bond,” Schwartz said before the election.

The bulk of the funding will go toward new construction projects, including a new 5,200-square-foot, $32.9 million early childhood education center. It will centralize all of the district’s preschool programs and feature 20 classrooms, indoor play spaces, a kitchen and a cafeteria.

“This will be one of the district’s largest projects and will be a great starting point for all students in the district,” Schwartz said. “We currently have children on a waiting list for preschool classes and this new space can meet that demand.”

Also being built will be an addition at Graham Elementary School, new playgrounds throughout the district, renovations at Avondale Middle School, $9.7 million in improvements to Avondale High School and a new $6.9 million bus repair facility for the transportation department.

Design work will begin this fall and construction projects will begin next summer.

“We’re basically rebuilding the district and people aren’t paying anything extra for it,” Schwartz said.

BLOOMFIELD HILLS

Bloomfield Hills School District voters approved a proposition renewing the 18-mill property tax and liability-exempt property tax for a 20-year period. The new rates will take effect when the current tax expires in 2025.

The final total of votes was 6,984 in favor and 3,428 against.

“The approval of our operating levy renewal demonstrates our community’s commitment to our schools and dedication to our students, ensuring we can continue to provide a high-quality education and maintain essential programs and services,” Superintendent Rick West said in a statement. “Thank you to our entire community for their trust and investment in our schools. Bloomfield Hills Schools will continue to provide the best possible learning environment for our students.”

Together, the two tax rates provide $34.3 million in revenue to Bloomfield Hills schools, representing 31% of the school district’s total operating budget.