New Bloomfield voters will have the opportunity to ask questions about a $2 million no-tax-increase bond issue that will appear on the April ballot. The New Bloomfield Proposition KIDS (Keep Improving District Schools) election committee is hosting a forum Thursday night to discuss the bond issue and answer questions.
The forum will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday in New Bloomfield High School's cafeteria. Superintendent David Tramel will give an overview of the no-tax-increase bond issue and how the money would be used if voters approve the bond issue this April. Then, he will answer any questions New Bloomfield residents have about the bond issue.
If the bond issue passes, the district will use money to fund facility repairs in the district. Mainly, the money would go toward major parking lot repairs and the replacement of the heating and cooling system. The bond issue - if approved - could fund additional repairs in the district if money is left over after those two projects are complete.
Brenda Maddox, president of the KIDS election committee, is a current employee in the district and a New Bloomfield graduate. She said she has seen first-hand how badly the district needs those facility repairs. Understanding those needs is why Maddox said she volunteered for the election committee.
Since forming last month, the election committee has spoken to community organizations to answer questions regarding the no-tax-increase bond issue. So far, Maddox said the election committee has received positive feedback and support from community members.
She said residents they've spoken to have agreed that the parking lot needs major repairs. And, residents with students in the district were very supportive of replacing heating and cooling units in the district.
"Some of their kids have come home and told them about times when it has been too hot or too cold, when they couldn't get it regulated in the classrooms," Maddox said.
Maddox said Thursday's forum is meant to inform any New Bloomfield residents who may not know a lot about the facility repairs the bond issue would fund if approved.
"In case there are people unaware of it or unaware of what is going on, we'd like to let them know," Maddox said.
At a January school board work session, Tramel told the board projected costs for repairing parking lots district-wide are between $850,000 and $950,000 and estimated costs for replacing heating and cooling units is between $750,000 and $850,000.
On Thursday, the committee will have handouts with information on how the funds, if approved in April, would be used in the district. The handouts will include answers to some frequently asked questions the committee has received the past month.
"The superintendent David Tramel will be there to answer any questions citizens may have concerning the bond issue. We just want people to come out and get what information they need," Maddox said.