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Brighton Area Schools $88.4 million bond proposal passed on Tuesday, with a surprising amount of people showing up to vote.
According to the Livingston County Clerk's office, 9,445 (32.29 percent) of registered voters in Brighton Area Schools communities made it to the polls. Only 23 percent of all Livingston County voters made it out during the Presidential Primary in February.
It was a close election, with the bond proposal expected to pass with all 100 percent of precincts in. Unofficial results show there were a total of 4,969 yes votes and 4,476 no votes cast.
The vote means that the district will see new technology, athletic facilities upgrades like a new pool and artificial turf football field, better security at all schools and building updates such as roofing, plumbing, ventaliting fixes and much more.
Several months leading up to the election, parent groups like Yes for BAS organized campaigns to urge voters to vote yes on the proposal. Mark Wilson, a Brighton parent and Farmington Public Schools Administrator was among them.
"I think it's really exciting that almost 10,000 people who are passionate about school got out there and voted," Wilson said. "I don't know what brought 500 more on our side, but I think regardless of which side of the issue people were on, this created a lot of passion and a lot of excitement around our community for our schools."
Wilson said the focus of the campaign were the needs of the district and the kids.
"I think we opened the eyes of the community to things that really need to be done," he said. "The other campaign really spoke to the issue of the sneaky election. That made it so our side really made sure that we made our campaign extremely public, extremely transparent and extremely open. We wanted to make sure that there was nothing sneaky about it. We encouraged everyone that we could possibly encourage to get out and cast a ballot for what they think is right."
The next step, according to Brighton Superintendent Greg Gray is to get down to design work.
"We need to put some subcommittees together to make sure that we're good stewards of the money the community just entrusted to us. There's a lot of work ahead, but it will be worth it. I think it will benefit the community for a long, long time."
Gray said the district will most likely see new technology as soon as this summer, but it would take at least six to eight months before any work on facilities.
There were some concerns raised during Monday night's Board of Education meeting regarding bids on the project and Trustee Bill Trombley working for Granger Construction Company. Residents are concerned that if Granger bids on district projects, it will cause a conflict of interest.
Gray said that all bids more than $18,000 has to be a sealed bid and that Trombley would have to abstain from those votes.
"I think it (the bond) made sense," Gray said. "When you take a look at what it cost and the benefit to the community and the kids of Brighton, it just made sense. We're pleased with the results and we're happy for the kids of Brighton, and more importantly the community. It's a big shot in the arm for the community."
GT Nickerson
9:04 am on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
This is ridiculous. The fact that the vote was made in May instead of November had a huge impact on voter turn out. And doesn't anyone understand that we're still in a recession? We don't need half of the items in the proposal. We're at the pool every Saturday with our son and it doesn't need to be redone. It's just a waste of taxpayers' money.
John Alger
4:52 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Good schools, in working condition, are what is required if you want to retain the property value of your home and your community in a recession. As for the pool, I'm not their for recreational swims on Saturday's. Instead, I'm there for high school swim meets. And this is where I see our facilities fall short! Separately, being on the swim team helps my kids manage their time better. For the number of Scholar Athletes being recognized during this year's awards dinner is worthy of note! As for Performing Arts, the concept itself encourages thought. And, if your kids are in Band, or Chorus, or are recognized in National Honor Society Ceremony's you need a Performing Arts Center! And as a result of the success of my kids, I use the Performing Arts Center as much as I do the Pool.
Tim Bloch
9:47 am on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Voter turn out ? Really? that is your issue? Look at the facts. 32% voter turn out in district. More than 2008 Presidential election. The community was educated, then voted. Time to find something new to complain about.
GT Nickerson
9:57 am on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Well considering voter turn out for the 2008 Presidential election was 56.8% (http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0781453.html) the highest number since 1968, I don't see how 32.29% is higher. Might want to recheck your facts. One third of the community being educated is not "the community being educated". Time to find something else to call me out on.
Smity
2:18 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Nicole was refering to the Presidential Primaries this past February, not the Presidential vote in 2008.
Tim Bloch
10:17 am on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
I stand corrected on facts. Just excited about the new pool. My point still the same. Time to find something new to complain about. Step aside and let the people who care about BAS take it from here.
GT Nickerson
10:35 am on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Don't get me wrong. I do care about BAS. It's the future for my kid(s). I just think this was an overly inflated proposal. I'm all for technology upgrades and maintenance, but rebuilding the pool is not going to increase the education my kid(s) get when they're older. If this was $40 million and strictly improving the educating facilities and equipment, I'd be all for it. What is improved lighting in the Performing Arts Center going to do for a kids GPA?
John Alger
4:54 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
See above.
J. Michael Lenninger
11:10 am on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Looks like it passed by an 11% margin - wouldn't they call that a landslide? Stil, it was a close margin by only 500 votes. My kids asked me HOW I voted. I replied, it's a SECRET ballot, I cast my vote in PRIVACY. I hope our administrators are good stewards of these funds. My sister-in-law predicts the football field will undergo demolition in the next two weeks...
Nicole Krawcke
2:46 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
I was told nothing would be done on the building facilities for six to eight months because they have to sit down and draw up designs. Does your sister work for the district? Thanks for the comment!
John Alger
5:02 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
I voted for the proposal! And I can't believe it passed.
I also can't believe that our State Representatives were absent this time around. For I remember when Chris Ward and Valdez Garcia and Mr. Hune all road into town to disrupt our vote on a milage a few years back, all promising that they would take care of our problems. Remember that ? I do. Took a trip to Lansing in response, with 10,000 others. Anyway, I'm surprised the spending bill passed! And I'll be the first to say that I voted for it.
Jean
2:18 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
What a waste of our taxpayers dollors. Of course it was going to pass when you have our young adult children still attending Brighton High School vote yes. Lets not forget our teachers. They were influences by the teachers to vote yes. If our children were paying taxes on a home it would of been a different vote. My young adult children did not realize that it effect what the parents paid for taxes on a house. Good going teachers. You got your way. I moved into the Brighton area because I was told of the excellent school system. I moved from Indiana. Let me say I would pick Fort Wayne schools by far over Brighton. I had a spanish teacher from Brighton High report that my daughter was absent from her class. If it wasnt for her giving a quiz that day my daughter would of had no way proving that she was in class. What great teachers. Brighton High does not need a new weight room, pool, or etc.. This is a joke. This should of been voted on in November. Our community wasting our tax dollar once again for an election that should of been in November.
J. Michael Lenninger
10:05 am on Thursday, May 10, 2012
Good point Jean. Our high school educated children will undoubtedly go to college in Michigan, but will leave the state as soon as they graduate -so they won't be burdened with paying the millage on a homestead.
Now, if you default on your home loan, they might be inspired to move back and bail YOU out! Latest statistic is that about 30% of college graduates have moved back home with their parents in this economy.
I'm all for lower taxes. But I'm much more for better paying jobs. That's the only way we're going to prosper in this economy - and keep our kids in Michigan!
This was the best time to vote on it - in November, had we voted yes, we would have gotten less money at a higher millage, the way home values are calculated for the last 5 years. This election was the sweet spot.
Either we improve our schools and fund them properly or we abandon the state entirely. Don't forget to turn out the lights when you leave, to save energy.
Brighton Mom
3:20 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
The people voted - the bond passed. It's over now. Lets just support the schools and the education of our kids!
Tim Bloch
3:36 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
So the teachers are to blame? 18 year olds dont have the right to vote? Should have voted in November? Excuse after excuse after excuse. Your right. Maybe we should print up signs that say. "no football field until teachers are trained on how to take attendance in english and spanish".
Brighton high student
10:15 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
This school is garbage it's absolutely needed until you go there you don't know the reality of it. It leaks everywhere we barely have janitors and it's disgusting how gross our school is. Our football field is horrible! We almost didn't get to play our homecoming game there. That's terrible. Put yourself in the high schoolers shoes.
TK
5:52 pm on Saturday, May 12, 2012
"Brighton high student"
That sounds like a typical Brighton kid who is used to having everything handed to them. Go to a school in the hood and see how "gross" it is, see how many janitors there are, take a look at the football field. Chances are you don't have to go too far from Brighton to find schools a lot worse off. Brighton folks just want to out do the Jonses, as long as they have fancier things than the neighbors they're happy. Thinking like that will eventually lead you to the poorhouse.
John Alger
6:21 am on Friday, May 18, 2012
Congratulations Brighton Hockey 2012 State Champs !!!
(a little belated, though please realize that I just found this site)
Cam Y.
10:57 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Curious if they went through with a new roof, or just a restoration at the Brighton MA school? Always curious how these projects turn out. http://www.olympicroofing.com/brighton-ma-roofing/
Nicole Krawcke
2:20 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Hi Cam. This story (and this site) is about Brighton, Michigan!