Caro Community Schools 
Non-Homestead Operating Millage Renewal & School Bond Proposal

No. Bond proposal funds cannot be used for employee salaries. They also cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs or other operating expenses. Bond proposal funds must be used only for purposes specified in the ballot language and, as required by Michigan law, they must be independently audited.

Bonds can be used for:

• Constructing additions to existing school buildings
• Remodeling existing school buildings
• Energy conservation improvements
• Site development and improvements
• Athletic and physical education facility development and improvements
• Playground development and improvements
• School bus purchases
• Purchasing loose furnishings and equipment (including administrative technology)
• Direct bond program costs, such as professional fees, election fees, issuance costs, qualification fees, insurance fees, and final audit costs
• Technology purchases are limited to hardware and communication devices that transmit, receive, or compute information for pupil instructional purposes only. The initial purchase of an operating system and customized application software is allowed if purchased with the initial hardware.

Bonds cannot be used for:

• Salaries, service contracts, lease payments, installment contracts, and supplies
• Repairs, maintenance, or maintenance agreements
• Purchasing automobiles, trucks, or vans
• Portable classrooms purchased for temporary use
• Uniforms
• Textbooks
• Upgrades to an existing computer operating system or application software
• Computer training, computer consulting, or computer maintenance contracts

Below is the preliminary site plan showing all building locations:

1. Bus Garage and Bus Parking (Gilford Rd Access)
   • Removes bus traffic & parking from building parking lots
   • Circulation improvements
2. Elementary Addition
   • Brings PK-5 together on campus
3. Access Road to Gilford
   • Better utilization of property owned by the district
4. Pickle Ball / Tennis Courts
5. Soccer Field
6. Supplemental Athletic Parking
7. Baseball & Softball Field Drainage Improvements
8. School Entry Enhancements
9. Playground Improvements
10. Convert Former Bus Garage to Athletic Training Space
11. Traffic Control Circle

Below is a preliminary floor plan for the expanded McComb Elementary School:

Every project in the bond proposal has been reviewed and approved by the Michigan Department of Treasury. All renovations and upgrades must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), National Fire Protection Association Life Safety Code (NFPA), and State of Michigan building codes.

Bond proposal funds must be used only for purposes specified in the ballot language, and as required by Michigan law, they must be independently audited annually.

School administrators annually review short- and long-term facility needs. Following this internal review, school administrators met with architects and construction management specialists to complete an in-depth analysis of facility needs. After completing the facility reviews and analysis, an initial project list was developed.

To obtain staff, community, and parent feedback about the proposed projects, a series of focus panels were conducted. At the conclusion of the focus panels, additional feedback was obtained through an online survey that was open to all staff and community members. Based on feedback from the focus panels and the survey, the final project list was developed, the overall project cost was reduced to $39.6 million, and the length of the bond proposal was reduced from 30 years to 28 years. Reducing the length of the bond proposal will benefit the community by reducing overall interest costs.

The bond proposal will require a 1.40 mill increase. For a Caro Community Schools homeowner with a $200,000 market value home ($100,000 taxable value), the bond proposal will cost about $140 per year or 38 cents per day. Some homeowners may pay more, but many homeowners will pay less.

School district residents can calculate their daily cost by multiplying the Taxable Value of their home (as listed on their tax bill) by 0.00140 and dividing the result by 365.

The expansion of McComb Elementary School will include two secure entry points for students. The current main entrance (on the east side of the building) will serve as the entry for all preschool students. A new secure entry on the south side of the building will be constructed for all K-5 students.

Other safety and security improvements include replacing select windows and interior and exterior doors; updating lighting; upgrading security camera systems; replacing fire alarm systems; replacing building PA systems to provide two-way communication between classrooms and the main office; updating student drop-off/pick-up areas; adding an additional entrance to the campus; and, improving playgrounds.

At all buildings, interior improvements are designed to enhance the learning environment. All Pre-K - 5th-grade students will be located at the McComb Elementary School site. Locating all Pre-K- 5th-grade students on one site brings more learning opportunities for students and collaboration opportunities for teachers.

Additional learning environment improvements include adding air conditioning; renovating and adding restrooms; updating classroom finishes by replacing select ceiling tiles, casework, furniture, and flooring; renovating and enlarging the high school guidance office; creating an outdoor eating area at the high school; and, replacing the high school music room flooring and storage.

Following recommendations from the facility analysis and feedback from the focus panels and community/staff survey, athletic updates include constructing a new soccer field, adding new tennis/pickleball courts; improving drainage on the baseball field; installing drain tile to the softball field; constructing a paved, accessible parking lot at the baseball and softball fields; and, renovating the current bus garage into a weight room/fitness space.

Updates to mechanical/electrical/plumbing systems will include replacing pneumatic controls with digital controls; replacing boilers; updating interior lighting; adding sump pumps; adding a generator; updating restroom fixtures and exhaust fans, replacing classroom and gym air handling units at McComb; replacing roofs, updating mechanical systems to improve air quality; adding air conditioning at McComb; and updating kitchens.

Site upgrades include repaving parking lots; adding a dumpster pad and enclosure at the elementary school; replacing and adding sidewalk areas; replacing parking lots, driveways, and the bus loop; expanding the high school parking lot to include a new entrance, access drive, and bus loop; constructing a new access road to the site; and adding a new concrete plaza for outdoor seating outside of the high school cafeteria.

When identifying facility needs, construction and architectural specialists suggested that relocating the bus garage would have several benefits, including:

• alleviating safety traffic issues on the site during student drop-off and pick-up times;
• creating more parking spaces on the site; and,
• allowing the school district to convert the current bus garage into a facility for student use.

Once the school district constructs a bus garage in a new location, the current bus garage will be converted into a weight room/fitness space to support physical education and athletic programs.

Yes. Voters who support the Caro Community Schools non-homestead millage renewal and the bond proposal should vote YES; voters who oppose the proposals should vote NO.

Bond Proposal

The bond projects cannot be completed as proposed.

Non-homestead Millage Renewal

The school district will not receive its full foundation allowance (State Aid from the State of Michigan).