SMART Bond Supporters Kick-Off Campaign with Rally in Dearborn

A community awareness campaign to support Dearborn Public Schools' push for a $76 million bond proposal in November kicked-off with a large crowd on Wednesday at Park Place.

The rally gave the district an opportunity to lay out its battle plan for encouraging taxpayers to head to the polls on Nov. 5.

"Our community is strong only because we're constantly having a vision for the future," Mayor John B. O'Reilly, Jr. said. "This millage is to keep our concentration on what's most important, and that is we're providing quality education for young people who will be the ones who will take over this community and other communities across the country in the future."

School officials dubbed the proposal the "SMART bond" because it will fund security, modifications, additions to buildings, renovations, technology and transportation.

David Mustonen, the district’s communications coordinator, said if the bond passes, it would replace an existing 5.35-mill tax rate due to the retirement of an existing bond.

"There would be no new tax. In effect, residents would keep paying what they are already paying," Mustonen said.

For a home with a taxable value of $100,000, that equates to $5.35 per $1,000. The bond's life is for 20 years, however Mustonen said taxes could go down over time if the district is able to refinance the bonds.

Hassane Jaafar, a member of the DPS Central Office staff, argued that the bond is sorely needed to fill gaps created by state funding cuts and decreasing property values over the last several years even as costs have continued to climb.

In the last five years, Jaafar said Dearborn has seen an 8 percent reduction in funding from the state.

"If we pass this millage, the most important reminder is that we will be able to leave money in the classroom and stop taking it out of the general fund for brick and mortar projects," he said.

The district has developed a punch list of projects for each building that focuses on computer upgrades, security systems and buzzer doors, roof replacements, parking lot upgrades, new buses, and additional classrooms.

"The projects on our list are needs, not wants," Pamela Adams, president of the Dearborn Public Schools Board of Education said.

Some of the necessities Adams pointed to include adding six classrooms to William Ford Elementary, six classrooms to River Oaks Elementary, restoration of classrooms at Henry Ford Elementary and six classrooms at Geer Park Elementary.

"Additions are necessary to accommodate our student enrollment growth of 2,060 students since 2000," she said.

Replacing the district's aging bus fleet is also important, Superintendent Brian Whiston said.

The average useful life of a school bus is 10 years. Dearborn's current fleet has an average age of nine years, and no new buses have been purchased in four years.

"The buses slated for replacement have reached the point where increased maintenance has created an added expense," Whiston said.

For a complete list of items proposed by the SMART bond, visit http://iblog.dearbornschools.org/2013bond/school-projects/.

Residents will also have a chance to learn more about the bond during a League of Women Voters forum set for Sept. 23 at the Dearborn City Council chambers. The forum, which starts at 6:15 p.m., will also include information on a millage renewal and new millage request for Henry Ford Community College.

At 7 p.m., the session will continue with a question and answer session with candidates for Dearborn City Council.