Bond issue to improve Blissfield school buildings loses

5/5/2010

Voters in the Blissfield Community Schools District yesterday rejected a scaled-back bond issue to finance the construction of energy-efficiency upgrades and other improvements to the school system's three buildings.

The 15-year, 1.49-mill bond issue would have been used to borrow up to $8 million in a federal stimulus program to pay for a new high school roof, windows, and doors, geothermal heating systems, air conditioning at the middle school, and other improvements.

A 2.49-mill bond proposal for the Lenawee County district failed by a slim margin in February.

A nearly $20 million bond proposal to improve buildings in the Addison Community Schools district passed by a narrow margin.

Voters in many Michigan school districts also went to the polls to elect school board officers.

The Mason Consolidated School District had three open spots. Voters elected Jacki Clark and Tara Tubbs to four-year seats and retained Denise Gale for a one-year seat.

Ken Papenhagen, vice president of the board at Dundee Community Schools, lost his bid for re-election. Voters elected Scott Gizzi and Teresa Marino to four-year terms.

Ida Public Schools had four candidates vying for four seats. Incumbents Dale Heil and Mark Mathis were elected to four-year terms.

Bedford Public Schools had two incumbents and two write-in candidates running for two open seats. Tim Brakel and Shawna Smith were challenged by Joe Lambert and Richard Nearhood for the four-year offices.

Officials said the 1,630 votes that were cast for write-in candidates must be reviewed by the county board of canvassers to determine the winners.