Hamilton Schools officially puts bond proposal on ballot for May 2 election

Mitchell Boatman, The Holland Sentinel
·2 min read

FILLMORE TWP. — Hamilton Community Schools will officially have a bond proposal on the ballot this May. Hamilton’s Board of Education voted 7-0 Friday, Feb. 3, to put the proposal on the May 2 ballot.

The bond proposal is for 2.17 mills and would generate $42 million for district-wide improvements.

Hamilton Community Schools will have a 2.17 mills bond proposal on the May 2, 2023, ballot that would generate $42 million for district-wide improvements.
Hamilton Community Schools will have a 2.17 mills bond proposal on the May 2, 2023, ballot that would generate $42 million for district-wide improvements.

“It comes down to three things — safe, dry and warm,” Lusk said. “The big items on that are roof repair, the addition of a new wing at Hamilton Elementary and the demolition of the old wing, boiler replacement, plumbing and electrical, fire alarm replacement at a couple of buildings.”

Hamilton’s current 2.18 mill debt millage is the lowest in the Ottawa Area ISD. If the bond is approved, Hamilton’s debt millage would be 4.35 mills, equal to the rate the district levied in 2021. The district’s rate was 4.5 mills from 2014-2020.

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Lusk presented the bond plan to the board in December. Each school in the district would have roofing repairs done, security film would be added to windows in each building and several would get mechanical upgrades to boilers, chillers and fire alarms.

Hamilton Superintendent Brad Lusk presents a potential May 2023 bond plan to the Hamilton Board of Education Monday, Dec. 12, 2022.
Hamilton Superintendent Brad Lusk presents a potential May 2023 bond plan to the Hamilton Board of Education Monday, Dec. 12, 2022.

The biggest item in the bond is a holdover from previous proposals — construction of a new classroom wing at Hamilton Elementary and demolition of a portion of the school built in the 1950s.

Additionally, the bond includes playground equipment at each of the four elementary buildings to replace aging and rusting equipment.

Replacement of the dehumidification unit at the middle school pool is in the proposal as well. The unit is the original one installed when the pool opened, and replacing it involves removing a section of the roof or a wall due to its size and location.

Now that the proposal is officially heading to the voters, the district will begin an informational campaign. The district has shared information with the community, but will now post bond information on the district website and is planning a walkthrough at Hamilton Elementary in March.

Photos are taken as students arrive for the first day of school Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022, at Hamilton Elementary.
Photos are taken as students arrive for the first day of school Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022, at Hamilton Elementary.

Lusk has discussed the bond during his regular “Scoop with the Supt.” events and said the response has been positive.

“It’s been very positive, very upbeat. People are excited,” Lusk said.

Hamilton last passed a bond in 2016. Since then, two attempts — in August 2020 and November 2021 — have failed.

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Lusk said the district listened to community feedback about previous proposals that failed and focused on necessary repairs and improvements.

“We really took the feedback from the community on the last couple of bonds that didn’t pass and tried to focus that in and make sure we’re making the necessary changes to make our schools even better,” Lusk said.

— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelMitch.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Hamilton Schools officially puts bond proposal on May 2023 ballot