A bond approved by voters on May 2 will allow Fraser Public Schools to implement improvements and upgrades to its infrastructure and facilities, including its aging parking lots.
By: Brendan Losinski | Fraser-Clinton Chronicle | Published May 8, 2023
FRASER — Fraser voters went to the polls on May 2 and chose to approve the lone issue on the ballot: a bond measure from Fraser Public Schools.
The bond measure was approved with 2,249 voters casting ballots in support of the bond and 1,394 voting against it. This was a margin of 61.7% to 38.3% of voters.
“We’re thrilled about the fact that the bond passed,” said Superintendent Carrie Wozniak. “It is a sign that our community supports the schools. You know how much they value the work that our staff does every single day.”
“I’m thankful to live in a community that cares about its schools. There were several bond measures this year in Macomb County from various school districts and voters showed a lot of support for them all,” added Fraser Principal Ruan Sines. “We’re grateful to the community for trusting us and (voicing) their support for education at the polls.”
Wozniak stressed that this will not mean a tax increase for anyone and that it simply gives the school district permission to take out a new bond to help fund upcoming projects and improvements in the district. The bond will be repaid using the income already received by the district.
“The current tax rate will not be changed. The tax rate for the current bonds will just be extended,” she said. “We’re grateful for the community and the trust they put in us. This is the third bond I’ve been a part of. We’ve had a lot of success with these bonds and that means the community really values and believes in what we are doing. If you look through the county, I believe all of the bond proposals in school districts passed. It shows that voters are really voicing their belief that we need to support education.”
She added that the funds made possible by the bond will go toward building repairs and improvements.
“It will benefit all of our buildings,” said Wozniak. “It’s obviously going to happen over the next few years. The work will include upgrading safety measures and building infrastructure like upgrading roofs, mechanical and electrical units. This is very important to maintain and sustain the high quality we have in all of our buildings. What makes Fraser special is we take pride in how our buildings look and it’s crucial that we leverage this bond in a way that will sustain this level of excellence in our buildings.”
Sines said that while most improvements from the bond won’t be flashy, all are necessary to ensure that students have a safe and well-equipped location to learn and grow.
“Security improvements, repairs and upgrades to infrastructure are all great things that will benefit students in the long run,” said Sines. “The new athletics support facility will probably be the most visible change for students at the high school. It will be an indoor room for groups like the wrestling team and cheer squad so they can have a space without having to drag equipment like mats around.”