Lincoln Consolidated school district will ask voters to extend $35 million bond for facilities

The bond would prolong a measure set to expire after 10 years. The school board voted Monday night to place the measure on the ballot.

The bond proposal would fund facilities upgrades at Lincoln High and the other schools in the district.

Photo courtesy of Lincoln Schools

“It’s basically for renovating, updating and incorporating new technology, as well as updating and improving athletic fields and sites,” said Paul Wills, vice president of Plante Moran, which is consulting with the district. “It also includes a performing arts center addition.”

Superintendent Lynn Cleary said the makeover would give the high school new science labs and uniformly bolster all schools.

“Modern classrooms, that’s what we’re looking for - so no one feels like they’re in an old building,” Cleary said.

She said the bond extension would also provide for $9.2-million in technological improvements over the next five years. “It’s so our kids are exposed to all the technology, the latest technology.”

During Monday's school board meeting, Cleary acknowledged the difficulties in addressing such a large deficit for 2010-2011.

Looking at the projected enrollment of 4,694 students - down from the peak of 5,049 in 2005-2006 - Cleary rolled out a plan for comprehensive cuts.

The district already announced plans earlier this month to empty Bessie Hoffman Elementary school and shift its multiage program to the district's main campus in the fall.

Other planned cuts now include the elimination of at least 11 teaching positions, seven aides and one or two clerical staff. In addition, four special education spots would be cut.

“The kids obviously are the ones that are bearing the burden here, so we just have to make the best decisions possible,” said school board president Kim Samuelson.

Cleary said the goal is to maintain a class size of around 25 pupils in the kindergarten and first grade.

With an announced retirement and further cuts, four more positions would be eliminated among the district’s speech pathologists, social workers and psychologists. A part-time occupational therapist won't return.

Early retirement is being offered to veteran teachers. They must decide by March 15 whether to accept.

“If we are losing someone at the top of the scale, we are saving someone at the bottom,” Cleary said.

Even with all the planned cuts, Cleary said, “I will tell you in all fairness, this does not balance our budget.”

But Cleary pledged it will be balanced, sounding a hopeful note about ongoing discussions with other nearby districts, including Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor. The districts are considering consolidating some services such as human resources and transportation.

Cleary also took the opportunity Monday to defend the district’s expenditure of $25,000 to be part of a program to market the state's "Best Schools" last December.

Given Lincoln’s remote location, without a city center or local newspaper, “it’s the only marketing tool that you have.” She estimated the viewing audience at 250,000 and said the district received numerous calls. 

Ronald Ahrens is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.