Bond renovations nearly complete at Madison Schools

MADISON HEIGHTS — Officials with the Madison District Public Schools say that more than 90% of the bond funds approved by voters in November 2021 have now been allocated.

In fewer than three years, the district has fully replaced the roof at Madison High School, installed air conditioning throughout the building, replaced its boiler, increased lighting throughout to enhance security, and upgraded the bells, surveillance cameras and public announcement system.

In addition, the district has also been replacing roofing at the Madison Early Childhood Center, Madison Elementary School and Wilkinson Middle School.

The result, officials say, is increased efficiency, comfort and safety for students and staff.

“The work that was done with this bond is vital,” said Mark Kimble, a trustee with the Madison District Public Schools Board of Education. “It’s just like if the average homeowner had their roof leaking or furnace not working properly, they would get it replaced. The same thing needed to be done here to provide a good environment for our students and staff.

“One key thing we added was central air conditioning at the high school, something that it wasn’t originally designed to have,” Kimble noted. “That took a lot of work to implement, but it was important because global climate change was making it too hot to hold class during multiple months of the year. It’s another example of modernizing our buildings to keep up with changing times.”

The district currently has about $850,000 remaining to spend in bond funds, plus an additional $600,000 in interest, totaling more than $1 million. The district is working with Plante Moran Realpoint to prepare for its next project, which will include replacing flooring at Madison High School and larger sections of roofing at Wilkinson Middle School.

After voters approved the bond issue in November 2021, funding was secured in 2022 when the district completed the sale of its school building and site bonds, the net proceeds of which amounted to about $11.31 million. This allowed the project to proceed.

“We are incredibly thankful to the community for providing these funds, enabling us to make these important improvements,” Superintendent Patricia Perry said in an email.

The bond itself was structured so that taxpayers wouldn’t see an increase to their school taxes. During the November 2021 election, nearly 900 votes were cast in favor of the bond, while nearly 600 votes were cast against. The millage levied in the first year was estimated at 1.8 mills — $1.80 on each $1,000 of taxable value. The bond represented a zero increase over the prior debt millage rate.

The groundwork for the proposal dates back to 2019, when a facility condition assessment was completed on behalf of the district by Performance Services and Byce & Associates, and then updated in 2021. That same year, SetSeg School Insurance Specialists conducted a facility and hazard assessment. Both studies identified critical facility needs at Madison High School, as well as roofing needs at the Early Childhood Center.

Previously, the district’s limited budget had only allowed for short-term repairs, but aging infrastructure had reached the point where more extensive repairs were needed. For example, the majority of HVAC equipment at Madison High School dates back to 1963 — well beyond its recommended lifespan.

“Unfortunately, this work was neglected by past administrations,” Kimble said, referring to the administration of Albert Morrison, the former board president now in prison for accepting bribes from a school contractor and not paying federal taxes. “The funds that would’ve been available back then were misspent, and not put toward these critical needs. I think it’s crucial for residents to understand that this work was pent up and long overdue. We’re now taking care of it.

“And for those who don’t have kids in the school district, which includes myself, I would remind them that supporting schools is still a vital investment in society,” he said. “Having an educated populace is very important to society’s overall well-being.”

Cindy Holder, the current Board of Education president, added, “I think the taxpayers will be really happy with the end result of this work.”