Ironwood Schools pushes $16 million bond for new addition

By P.J. GLISSON

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Ironwood — Members of the Board of Education for the Ironwood Area Schools District voted on Monday evening to approve a resolution to apply for a preliminary qualification of bonds.

Superintendent Travis Powell said the ultimate aim is for a May 2 ballot asking Ironwood citizens to approve a $16 million bond that would require a 1.45 millage increase in order to fund the construction of a school addition to the existing Luther L. Wright K-12 School.

Monday’s vote was unanimous, with all members present, regarding the application to the Michigan Department of Treasury.

Powell explained to board members that the proposed addition would be located where the former Josephson Nursing Home — which the district recently purchased — now stands.

“We had a focus group,” said Powell in relation to hashing out the fate of the nursing home, which also had undergone an engineering inspection.

“We had several workshops,” added Powell regarding the focus group that included about 30 various community members.

He said that focus group members determined that the “wiser, more economical” approach would be to “just level that building” and start fresh.

“We’re talking about this addition being an early childcare center,” Powell told The Globe after the meeting.

He said the pending new structure, which is estimated at 27,000 square feet, will include a space for day care, along with rooms for students in kindergarten, first grade, early childhood special education, the Great Start Readiness Program, an elementary-level library, and other multi-use space.

If May voting approves the bond, Powell said the district would receive $13 million of the funds as early as the following month in June.

“As soon as we have the money, we start shopping for a contractor,” he said, estimating that demolition of the former nursing home and subsequent new construction could start by spring of 2024.

The final $3 million of the proposed $16 million would not be issued until 2027, said Powell.

He added that the bond funds also would fund greater safety measures within the existing school building.

For instance, a new, secure entrance has been designed for placement between the existing school and the proposed addition. New interior doors also are planned for the existing school.

If approved, bond funds also would be used, in part, for improvements in the athletic program, including a new track, football field lighting, a new concessions area, etc.

Powell also explained to the Globe that the former nursing home, which was built in 1900, was deemed a fire hazard. Although an addition to the home was built in 1986, he said even that portion would require replumbing, rewiring, reroofing and significant other modification that still would not meet all of the school’s needs.

As stated in the bond application, “The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2023 is 2.87 mills ($2.87 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a 1.45 mills net increase over the prior year’s levy.”

Powell said that a 52-page related document in relation to the proposal at large is on the school’s website.