ELK RAPIDS -- New computers and upgraded energy systems soon will be evident in Elk Rapids schools, after voters overwhelmingly approved a $1.625 million bond issue.
Voters in Elk Rapids Public Schools on Tuesday voted 62 percent to 38 percent in favor of a bond proposal that will make funding available for capital improvements, according to preliminary election results. A total 1,530 votes were cast.
A technology bond campaign was defeated a year ago by a 51-49 margin, and this time around administrators worked to more clearly explain what the proposal sought and why it was necessary, business manager Jeff Scroggins said.
"This is a great result for us," Scroggins said Tuesday. "We know voters had a lot to consider given the gloomy economy, and they've just helped us in a very big way."
The bond will keep the district's levy at 2.39 mills for the first two of its four years, and it will drop to roughly 1.62 mills overall when an existing bond expires. An average of 0.5 mills will be needed each year to repay the debt.
Funding from bond campaigns may only be used for capital improvements, and Elk Rapids administrators plan to purchase new computers and buses, update the district's telephone system and upgrade energy efficiency with the new cash infusion.
New computers could begin to arrive in June, Scroggins said, and he hopes energy improvements can begin in mid-July. Plans and bid specifications devised to help the district determine the size of the bond will help expedite the purchases, he said.
About half of the revenue, or about $788,000, will be allocated to technology.
Also Tuesday, voters chose incumbent Doug Coates and challenger Dave Lein to fill two, four-year seats on the Elk Rapids school board, with preliminary results of 1,016 votes and 982 votes, respectively. Challenger Jeff Bergman received 551.
Lein said he also is pleased with the bond campaign's success, and wants to continue gaining familiarity with the district before his term begins in July.
"I'd like to sit down with the superintendent and also continue to attend board meetings, like I have for the past few months, and just get up to speed," Lein said.
-- Staff writer Sheri McWhirter contributed to this report.
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