Voters to decide on Cassopolis schools tax Tuesday

CASSOPOLIS — Will voters in Cassopolis Public Schools district decide to pass a 2.4 mill tax renewal Tuesday? School officials remain optimistic they will. Scott Thomas, business manager for the district, said this is a great place and a good time not to raise taxes. The renewal will let the district have a new K-6 building, Thomas said. Renewing the bond will provide $16 million to renovate Sam Adams Elementary School. The measure means a home in the school district with a $100,000 market value has a taxable value of $50,000, which equals to $120 per year with the 2.4 mills. “That’s what a taxpayer has been paying, and we are asking them to continue to pay that same amount through the renewal,” Thomas said. If the bond passes, the construction on the project would begin in early 2011 and be ready to open by the school year of 2012, he added. The size of the building will include 58,000 square feet of new structure, 38,000 square feet of renovated structure and an existing 39,000 square feet would be demolished. This will create 31 new classrooms with updated technology, mechanical equipment and lighting, Thomas said. The gym, cafetorium, science and music classrooms and third-grade classrooms wing will be renovated with new furniture and equipment. Students who currently attend Squires Early Elementary School would be transferred to the new school and Squires would close, he said. The district would save a lot of money in maintenance costs, he said. “We spent $80,000 in maintenance between the two buildings over the last three years,” he said. If the tax renewal passes, there will be a proposal from the school board on what to do with the empty building so the school and community would have control over what happens. “We could sell the property to another company or organization so it’s off our books, and we won’t have to maintain it,” he said. As a last resort, the building could be demolished so there’s not a vacant building standing in the community. “And the land would hopefully be sold and benefit the community in the long run,” he added. A group of community-based residents searching for options for schools and children formed the Ranger Pride committee. “They have been working very hard in an exhausting effort to get the word out for a new school without new taxes,” Thomas said. For more information about the project, voters can visit the Web site at www.rangerprideproject.com. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.