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Home > 2018 Bond Proposal

2018 Bond Proposal

Thank you Forest Hills community for INVESTING in our district, SECURING our schools, and INSPIRING all learners!

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Historical Information

Here’s a look back on our 2018 Bond Proposal and some historical information after voters approved the proposal.

Background

A kindergarten girl with blonde hair smilingIn November of 2018, Forest Hills Public Schools community approved a bond proposal to provide $130 million to fund capital improvements phased in over eight years. The Forest Hills Public Schools 2018 bond proposal was developed to INVEST in the district’s infrastructure by upgrading aging systems to save operational costs, SECURE our schools by upgrading safety measures, and INSPIRE our students by providing modern learning environments. The following information provides a historical look on on the bond proposal and updates from 2018-2019.

2019 Updates

Eastern Contingent Growth: May 2019 Recommendation Announced to Orchard View and Knapp Forest Families

In 2016, the district invited individuals to serve on the Eastern Contingent Growth Task Force. The purpose of this task force was to bring parents and staff together to provide a recommendation to the district in the event additional enrollment growth was to occur at one or both of Eastern’s kindergarten- through sixth-grade buildings: Knapp Forest (KF) and Orchard View (OV). These schools are the two largest elementary schools in the district. The task force was charged with two priorities:

  1. Examine available options in the event of future growth in enrollment at KF and OV elementary schools.
  2. Provide the superintendent a recommendation on how to address overcrowding in KF and/or OV when and if such overcrowding should materialize.

Based on the task force’s recommendation, beginning in the fall of 2020, sixth grade at Knapp Forest and Orchard View Elementary schools will move to Eastern Middle School.

The final report of the Eastern Contingent Task Force is available here.

Board Approves Ratifying Resolution: May 2019

The board of education approved the ratifying resolution for the 2019 school building and site bonds in the amount of $38 million.

Approval to Purchase First Phase of Bonds: April 2019

At the April 2019 board of education meeting, Superintendent Behm shared that the district will be pricing the first series of bonds approved by voters in November of 2018. This series of bonds will net $38 million in proceeds. Final approval will come before the board in May.

Individual School Site Visits: Winter 2018/2019

Following a survey of instructional staff and principals, the predesign team, consisting of architects, designers, and school administrators, visited each school site. These visits provided each school administrator an opportunity to provide an overview of the school facility strengths and challenges. It also helped illustrate the range of needs within and across our school facilities. Members of the predesign team collected notes and data during each school visit. This information will be instrumental in providing the architect design teams with important information related to the instructional needs at each school when they begin designing solutions to redesign classroom and learning spaces. Design work will start in earnest in the spring of 2019. The planning phase of this work will take several months. Construction and the redesign of classroom spaces will not begin until the summer of 2020 and will continue over the course of several years.


Bond Proposal Overview

Kids sitting on the floor with a teacher.
Forest Hills Public Schools is asking the community to consider a bond proposal on the November 6 ballot. If voters approve this bond proposal, there is expected to be no increase to taxpayers and it would provide $130 million to fund capital improvements phased in over eight years. The Forest Hills Public Schools 2018 bond proposal was developed to INVEST in the district’s infrastructure by upgrading aging systems to save operational costs, SECURE our schools by upgrading safety measures, and INSPIRE our students by providing modern learning environments.

What Every Taxpayer Should Know about the Bond Proposal

Kindergarten children playing with blocks

  • If approved, there is expected to be NO tax rate increase.
  • The amount of the bond proposal is for $130 million.
  • If approved, the bond proposal would fund capital improvements phased in over eight years.
  • The bond proposal was developed to: INVEST, SECURE, and INSPIRE.
  • A majority of the bond would go toward transforming over 500 classrooms and educational learning environments where students spend a large portion of their time at school.

Invest

Invest 25%

This proposal was developed to INVEST in the district’s infrastructure by:

  • Upgrading critical mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems such as boilers, chillers,
    and fresh air handling units in all schools
  • Replacing systems at the end of useful life cycle
  • Continuing snowmelt systems
  • Replacing roofing, parking lots, and sidewalks
  • Relocating and constructing the district’s administration office to the Fine Arts Center campus
  • Improving athletic facilities, as identified

Secure

Secure 20%

This proposal was developed to SECURE our schools by:

  • Funding continual improvements to safety and security measures within our district as
    school safety solutions evolve
  • Updating lighting, occupancy sensors, and surveillance systems
  • Replacing aging buses to keep the fleet modern and safe

Inspire

Inspire 55%

This proposal was developed to INSPIRE our students by:

  • Transforming over 500 classrooms to create dynamic learning environments and
    age-appropriate workspaces, including flexible furniture, energy efficient LED lighting,
    and integrated technology
  • Updating technology infrastructure, including classroom multimedia and devices, to
    support teaching and learning
  • Providing project-based learning environments to support collaborative learning
  • Continuing media center improvements
  • Spending the majority of bond funds to transform classrooms, where students
    spend a large part of their time at school

Commonly-Asked Questions about the Bond Proposal

What is a bond proposal and how can funds from a bond be spent?

A bond proposal is how a public school district asks its community for authorization to borrow money for capital expenditures by selling bonds. Voter-approved bond funds can be spent on new construction, additions, remodeling, site improvements, athletic facilities, playgrounds, buses, furnishings, equipment, and technology. Funds raised through the sale of bonds cannot be used on operational expenses such as employee salaries and benefits, school supplies, and textbooks. Bond funds must be kept separate from operating funds and must be audited by an independent auditing firm.

Why is Forest Hills Public Schools asking voters to consider a bond proposal now?

The last time FHPS voters approved a bond was in 2013 and the previous bond projects are nearing completion. The November 2018 bond proposal would fund projects for the next eight years, and would continue to preserve operating funds for student programming.

How will the bond impact student learning?

Educational design has evolved over the decades, but most of our learning spaces have not. Our classrooms have not seen major renovations since they were originally built, with our oldest school building originally constructed in 1954. Some schools need more improvements than others. A majority of this bond would be spent on transforming classrooms and learning environments for all students. Modern learning environments support more collaborative and interactive teaching and learning styles that prepare students for success beyond the classroom.

Will any of the bond funds be used for safety and security?

Yes. The district will use bond funds to continue our efforts to ensure buildings and sites are secure for students and staff. As safety and security measures evolve, it is important that we remain in the forefront of security. Over the summer, the district enhanced the secure entrances at all schools. These projects were funded by the voter-approved bond proposal in 2013.

Why $130 Million?

FHPS operates 26 buildings, totaling more than two million square feet on over 650 acres. Within these facilities, FHPS educates nearly 10,000 students, operates the Community and Aquatic Center, the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center, and provides programming for youth, adults, and senior citizens. The district is larger than 96 percent of public school districts in Michigan. Proposed bond projects were identified through extensive facility needs assessments and input from the district’s revenue task force. If approved, the majority of bond funds would be spent on transforming over 500 classrooms, and fund additional capital improvement projects over the next eight years.

Will this increase my taxes?

No. If voters approve this bond proposal, there is expected to be no increase to taxpayers. This summer, the FHPS Board of Education approved a reduction of .70 mills in the tax rate to meet its required bond payments, which reduced the tax liability for our taxpayers. The district continues to demonstrate good stewardship and fiscal responsibility by retiring bonds as soon as possible. Forest Hills Public Schools holds an Aa2 rating with Moody’s Investors Service, one of the highest ratings held by public schools in Michigan, with strong financial management being a contributing factor.

Why are there different debt millage rates in the ballot language?

The wording used in the ballot language is required by law. We are obligated to share the millage/tax rate that will be levied in the first year to make our required debt payment for the new bonds. In this case, the new bonds would require levying .45 mills to make the required debt payment. We are also sharing the new proposal’s impact to the total millage/tax rate that will be levied to make all required debt payments for the new and old bonds. With this bond proposal, the total mills needed to make the required debt payment for the new and old bonds is actually a decrease of .10 mills. Said differently, the net impact to tax payers is a reduction in the tax rate.

What about the current administration building?

The current administration building was constructed in 1951 as an elementary school. The building has not had any major work in over 30 years. According to the school district’s architect, the integrity of the building is failing, and many building systems are far beyond their useful life cycle. The cost of replacing building components such as roofing, heating and cooling, electrical and plumbing systems, and finishes is more expensive than a new building. In 2015  the district formed an Administration Task Force to determine future plans for the administration building. The task force was comprised of 10 community members and was led by GMB Architecture + Engineering. After reviewing data and options over multiple meetings, the task force recommended the construction of a new administration building on the Fine Arts Center Campus.

The district anticipates selling the property that houses the current administration building and using the proceeds to offset the cost of a new administration building. The cost of constructing the new administration building is expected to be less than 6% of the $130 million bond proposal.

What if I still have questions?

If you have additional questions about the 2018 bond proposal for Forest Hills Public Schools, please call the FHPS administration office, 616-493-8800, or email your questions to us.

Ballot and Voting Information

Ballot language

Forest Hills Public Schools Bonding Proposal

Shall Forest Hills Public Schools, Kent County, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed One Hundred Thirty Million Dollars ($130,000,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, in one or more series, for the purpose of: remodeling, equipping and re-equipping and furnishing and refurnishing school buildings; erecting, furnishing and equipping additions to school buildings; acquiring, installing and equipping or re-equipping school buildings for instructional technology; erecting, furnishing and equipping a new administration building; purchasing school buses; and erecting, furnishing and equipping playgrounds, play fields, athletic fields, athletic facilities and sites?

The following is for informational purposes only: The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2019 is 0.45 mill ($0.45 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a 0.10 mill net decrease over the prior year’s levy. The maximum number of years the bonds of any series may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is fifteen (15) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 1.99 mills ($1.99 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation).

(Pursuant to State law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited, and the proceeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.)

To view a sample ballot, track the status of an absentee ballot, and verify voter registration

If you’d like to view a sample ballot for the upcoming election, track the status of an absentee ballot and verify your voter registration information, visit Michigan Voter Information Center through the Michigan Secretary of State.

Where do I vote?

Polling locations may change depending on the type of election. Click here for an online search of where you can vote based on your name and zip code or driver’s license: https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/

If you are unsure of your polling place, please contact your local city/township office.

When are poll locations open on election day?

Polling locations are open on election day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Local News Informational Stories about the Bond Proposal

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Informational news stories by local news media.

  • MLive
  • School News Network
  • The Central Trend

Additional Information

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The following documents will be available in PDF format. If you are having difficulties accessing any of these documents, please email us and let us know, and we’ll be happy to assist you.

  • Absentee voter mailer information
  • Bond fact sheet 
  • “Focus” newsletter October
  • A special edition of the “Focus” Newsletter.

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Contact the District

Forest Hills Public Schools
6590 Cascade Rd. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Phone: (616) 493-8800
Fax: (616) 493-8519

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