NORWAY, Mich. (WLUC) – Voters will decide whether or not to pass a Dickinson County School bond proposal in the Nov. 5 election.
In a small space above the Norway High School Gym, the school district’s largest air handler whirrs away. The entire system is the only air handler for the high school gym, and it was installed in 1966. Its motors have been replaced many times, as recently as 2020.
Norway Vulcan Area School District Facilities Manager Chuck Pellegrini says upgrading the school’s air system could save money in the long run.
“We’re not spending money repairing old technology and investing money where you’re not going to get a return on your investment,” Pellegrini said. “Whereas, if you update all these things, we are going to be operating a lot more efficiently.”
The bond proposal ballot language asks voters to approve an up to three mills levy for a maximum of 20 years.
Under the full levy, this would cost the owner of a $100,000 house $300 per year.
Norway Vulcan Area School District Superintendent Lou Steigerwald heard residents’ concerns about the price tag of the bond at an open house last week.
He says rising prices limited the school’s options.
“The honest answer is just as there’s been inflation for everything else, there’s been inflation for our costs here,” Steigerwald said. “On top of that, the code that we have to adhere to here at school is different from the codes at home. They tend to be more stringent, obviously because our building gets a lot more heavy use.”
Steigerwald says the proposal you will see on the ballot will replace an older proposal with similar language for no net increase.
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