In an uneventful meeting void of public opposition, the Oxford Board of Education voted unanimously Monday night place a $70.135 million bond proposal on the Feb. 24 ballot
While there has been much public talk about the proposed bond, including financial concerns and questions whether some of the proposed plans or programs are needed, there were no public comments of opposition to the bond vote at the meeting.
While board superintendent Dr. William Skilling along with trustees Doug Myer, Pam Phelps and Mary Stein spoke about the issue, the only public comments made by non-board members were from Oxford Township Trustee Melvin ‘Buck? Cryderman and from Oxford Township Parks and Recreation Director Ron Davis.
Cryderman, attending his first board meeting as township trustee, told the board while he–as a taxpayer–doesn’t always agree with everything they do, he does approve of their efforts.
Davis thanked the board for its efforts on this issue. ‘It’s a pleasure dealing with Dr. Skilling,? he said. ‘He’s a motivator and visionary.?
Stein thanked the public for the feedback it’s given over the past few months. ‘There has been lots of discussion and things to consider,? she said. ‘We want the community to know we appreciate their comments. We know the community has been going through trying times, and people have asked many good questions.?
Stein voiced appreciation toward the many community members who’ve worked on this issue and kept the school board updated during working sessions regarding the details of the bond.
‘It might have appeared to some that we’re moving right onto the vote and that there hasn’t been a lot of discussion or questions asked when there was a lot of discussion,? she said. ‘These community members went back to the drawing board a number of times to really do what’s best for the district.?
Phelps added that it’s ‘refreshing? to have a superintendent who wants to give students everything that can be given to them.
‘We strive to get the fullest function out of existing buildings,? she said. ‘We appreciate everybody’s [comments], and we’re happy with the direction we’re going.?
Skilling said he was surprised by the lack of public comments–especially by citizens who are opposed to the bond vote.
‘When you have a bond issue usually there are a couple of people who will come and express an opposing viewpoint, especially since there was a letter to the editor asking for people in opposition to come,? he said.
The superintendent said whether or not the bond passes, there will be no change in the current annual tax levy of 7 mills for many, many years.
If the bond proposal fails, the current 7-mill rate to pay off the existing debt would begin to decrease in 2024 and the debt would be paid off in 2031.
However, if the bond proposal is approved, the 7-mill tax wouldn’t begin to decrease until 2037 (maybe a little sooner, Skilling noted) and the debt wouldn’t be paid off until 2041.
Skilling added: ‘Right now, in these first 15 years, there’s no impact in terms of people’s property taxes, whether they are homeowners or non-homestead such as business owners.?
One of the many concerns expressed about the February vote is that it will present challenges to people wanting to vote on the bond and would be easier if instead held in August or November.
Skilling explained that for senior citizens who live in warmer climates in February, they can simply go online and download absentee applications to get a ballot. Seniors here in the area automatically get one sent to their homes, he added.
‘It would not matter if you’re voting in February, May, August or in November 2009,? he said. ‘It still will be a single-ballot issue in 2009 since this is an off-election year. The issues that would inhibit people from voting have been removed.?
The superintendent also feels the timing of a February vote will work much better for the school district. He noted the most ‘optimal? time to seek bids is in January and February since it takes at least nine to 10 months to have design work done and sent out into the community for feedback.
‘By having voter approval in February, it puts us in the most opportune time to put those bids on the street,? he said. ‘When you get the most bidders, you get the most competitive bids.?
The result, he explained, is being able to get work done in the spring and summertime when the weather is more permitting–resulting in smaller construction costs.
Some in the community have questioned the wisdom of approving a school bond during an economic recession and with possible upcoming increases in fuel prices.
‘We’re trying to explain that, because of the economy, this bond is a positive thing for the community,? Skilling said. ‘It does seem counterintuitive to be going for a bond issue during a recession. However, when you think about it logically, anytime you go for a 25-30-year bond issue you’ll go through three to four recessions. When going for a bond issue now, a district has to be much more conservative in terms of understanding the operational impact. That’s one of the main things the district has to look at. Given that this will have a negligible impact on operations, we’re going out and saying to people that we can afford to take on these additional facilities.?
He added: ‘What happens in the bond issue, when you go out in this time you have to go out with the understanding that you can operate new facilities under existing resources. When the district goes out during a growing economy, they’re taking a greater risk by banking on a certain amount of growth in students in order to afford their additional operation expenses. That’s why we’re working with our district facilities and not building a new one. We’re also doing energy projects to offset additional expenses.?
The superintendent feels this bond can help the district keep up with students? growing education needs.
While middle school students have an engineering program, the district would like to add a production development area for robotics and engineering instead of having to send high schoolers off-site to build and construct robots.
‘This would be an opportunity lost at the high school if we didn’t do that,? he explained.