By Graham Sturgeon, staff writer
Durand Schools Supt. Craig McCrumb and the Durand Board of Education further discussed the idea of putting a no-mill increase bond proposal on the Nov. 3 ballot during the June 8 Board of Education meeting. Earlier this year, the district refunded their two refinanced 2005 bonds and their 2006 bond, and the plan is to put the $6.4 million savings back into the district.
However, the district will need voter approval to do that, but McCrumb and the board have reason to believe that the new proposal will be well received. In addition to Durand having a higher-than-normal passage rate for school bonds, the district’s financial advisor, RJ Naughton, informed the district during their Nov. 19 Committee of the Whole meeting that no-mill increase bond proposals pass at a 92 percent rate.
The district began discussing this opportunity in the fall and they have gone through the paces when it comes to planning. In addition to improving the current facilities, Supt. McCrumb intends to save the district money by making improvements that will increase energy efficiency campus-wide. Roof and window updates are high on the list for both Bertha Neal and Robert Kerr elementary schools, security would be updated in the middle and high schools, and the football/track and field/band stadium would see track and handrail upgrades. Technology would also be updated in all of the schools. The bond would mature in 20 years.
