Committee to Present New Bond Proposal to Grosse Pointe Schools

At a special meeting held Thursday evening, the Grosse Pointe Public Schools Board of Education Technology Steering Committee decided to once again, reconvene and create a new technology bond proposal to present to the Board.

This will be the next step in what many parents and community members present at the meeting referred to as a "long, drawn-out process." Earlier this week, the Board of Education failed to reach an agreement on a motion to pass a 10-year, $48 million technology bond to submit for the November ballot. Monday's motion ended in a 3-3 tie.

On Thursday, the committee presented a chart outlining the costs for three other proposed requests for the technology bond. The requests, which are all seven-year bonds, were shown in a side-by-side comparison to the $48 million proposal. The other requests included a $20 million request brought forth by Board of Education Trustee Cindy Pangborn on Monday, another for $20 million (which takes into account different factors including telephone replacements) and a final request for $24 million. Individual line items were discussed as the committee voiced their concerns.

Board of Education Trustee and Committee Member Judy Gata said she sees a problem with Pangborn's $20 million bond request, which was formed through discussions with anonymous sources. Gata said she is worried because it eliminates the upgrading of student media centers and computer lab redesign, which are essential for preparing students for future digital standardized tests.

Board Trustee and Committee Chair Thomas Jakubiec said he believes that the crucial "pieces that must be in place" during the upgrade include computer labs and desktop replacements, wireless network deployment, a private fiber network, network infrastructure and server replacements, professional services, generator, UPS and cooling replacements as well as a 10% contingency rate. He expressed that he believes these items are mandatory if the proposal is cut down.

Board Secretary and Committee Member Lois Valente, who was not physically present at the meeting but voiced her concerns over a speakerphone in the room, said she would like to see a millage requirement of 1.99 mills maximum for the bond, which would bring the total down to somewhere between $24 and $33 million. This is a number that the committee will work to factor into their new proposal which they will prepare for review next week.

Once the proposal has been approved, language for the November ballot will be drafted. However, the clock is ticking. According to the committee, if the proposal is not outlined by the upcoming deadline, it may instead find its way onto a February ballot, which will come with a cost.

"The community needs to come have a voice, and we need to trust our voters," said Gafa, who said she welcomes input from the community.

Gafa noted that one of her main concerns is to be upfront with taxpayers, so that the technology bond issue will not have to be placed on yet another ballot a few years down the road.

"Whatever the dollar amount is, does it get us where we need to be?" she asked.

The Technology Steering Committee aims to have a new proposal drawn up and reviewed by the end of next week. It will then be submitted before the next Board of Education meeting on August 19.

"It's about hard choices and the community needs to understand that there are hard choices to be made, and I think they'll embrace it," said Valente.