Supt. Carolyn Wierda issues the charge of the Board of Education to the Bay City Public Schools F.A.C.T.S. Committee. Schools Vital to Economic Development, Says S.C. Johnson Site Manager
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"Economic development and education do come together," S.C. Johnson site manager Joe Liefbroer told the Bay City Public Schools F.A.C.T.S. Committee last Tuesday.
"Each one is dependent on the other," the active local industrialist said, adding: "Poor condition of schools sends a poor message to potential investors in the community."
He said quality school buildings are important to companies looking to relocate and to population growth, noting: "Standish is investing in new buildings; people are attracted to that investment."
The Cherry Commission's report, prepared by a group headed by Lt. Gov. John Cherry, has statistical evidence that "better educated people do better." Michigan is engaged in an effort to keep pace with states like Illinois and Minnesota that have greater percentages of their population with higher education. Michigan must increase its college-ready student base from 650,000 to 850,000 a year, and Bay City is part of the effort, the local business leader said. (Please see www.cherrycommission.org/meeting.htm).
Mr. Liefbroer's comments added another motivating factor to the list of reasons for improvement of school facilities compiled by approximately 60 committee members. The group, dubbed the F.A.C.T.S. Committee, (Facilities Advisory Committee: It's Time for Our Students) was asked by Supt. Carolyn Wierda to review school facilities and make recommendations to the Bay City Board of Education.
The recommendation will likely take the form of a 1-2 mill request, a bond issue or pay-as-you-go millage, or combination, to expand and/or reconfigure buildings to meet student needs.
Conferees agreed that getting voters to approve the $93 million in renovations recommended five years ago in the Greiner Report and building one or two new middle schools were needed but were not achieveable goals.
Instead, the new plan will likely involve a proposal to refurbish all existing schools, adding space to some. "It all comes back to what the voters will support," said Tom Paige, Williams Township supervisor and former school board trustee.
A group comprised of County Executive Tom Hickner, computer specialist Vicki Bowden, Attorney Jim Johnson, and Larry Ramseyer, facilities manager for Delta College, will summarize the group's recommendations and present them to the board on Dec. 13 in a 7 p.m. meeting at McAlear-Sawden Elementary.
"Let's do it once and do it right," exclaimed Mr. Johnson, referring to the proposed millage election on the funding request. The issue might be on the ballot next November with city offices, conferees indicated.
Mr. Hickner suggested focus groups of parents to ask "What will it take to get you to vote yes?"
The whirlwind day and a half brainstorming conference even came up with a proposed slogan for the campaign: "First Class Schools Lead to a First Class Community." Mr. Hickner also suggested: "QualityEducation = Jobs."###
Tom Paige makes one of several group summary reports at the conclusion of a school facilities visioning session.
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