A citizens group is gearing up to advocate for a $180 million Traverse City Area Public Schools bond proposal that will head to voters on August 6.

TCAPS discussed the proposal for more than a year before approving it this past winter. The proposal would not increase the existing 3.1 mill rate and is intended to cover a wide range of improvements to infrastructure, safety and security, energy efficiency and other items across the district. 

The proposal also covers roughly $30-40 million in improvements to Central Grade School, the district’s largest elementary school. Upgrades to the historic building have been a topic of discussion for years, with survey results showing that the community values the building’s character but would like to see it updated for 21st century needs.

YES for Kids is a citizens group of nearly 20 TCAPS parents and community leaders formed to advocate for the bond proposal, which in district materials has a tagline of "Safe, Warm, Dry." Under state law, the district can educate voters about what the bond entails, but cannot directly advocate for a “yes” vote.

Many of the investments identified under the proposal are what Superintendent John VanWagoner describes as “nuts and bolts” upgrades to critical infrastructure like roofs, boilers, lighting and more. YES for Kids co-chairs Sara McCauley and Megan Brown believe that the time is now to tackle this long to-do list, especially as costs of materials and labor continue to rapidly increase.

“If we wait longer, if we don't do this now, continuing to invest in these infrastructure pieces will just get more expensive,” McCauley tells The Ticker. “And they're not things that we're not going to do. We're not going to be a district that doesn't have safe buildings for our kids…this is about getting it done, doing it right and doing it when the time warrants, which is now.”

VanWagoner echoes those sentiments. District buildings, even the "newer" ones, are showing wear and tear, he says. 

“Even West High School at this point is 27 years old, and by the time we get to this work, it will be over 30 years old,” he tells The Ticker. “It’s just like a house. You have to take care of the hot water heater, the roof, the furnace. We’ve kept them up, but things age out in time, and you don’t want them deteriorating further.”

The exact nature of what will be done to Central Grade School won’t be determined until after the bond passes (if it does), VanWagoner says. A separate citizens group comprised of parents, teachers and staff would be tasked with helping to make those decisions, he says.

School millages in the region have had mixed results in recent years, especially as the economy has sputtered and average folks pay closer attention to taxes. YES for Kids members believe they’ll be able to cut through the noise and drive the importance of this bond proposal home.

“I understand the (anti-tax sentiments), but taxes are just another way of talking about priorities and investments, and this is a community that, in my experience, continues to prioritize kids and families,” McCauley says. “At a time when there's a lot of divisiveness out there, I think folks are hungry to be able to get behind something together with their neighbors … and just be excited about the future of their community.”

Co-chair Brown believes the proposal is not overreaching, which should appeal to voters. It’s a list of must-do items, she says, and isn’t bogged down with any extravagant or unnecessary projects.

“I think a really important point is that when I looked at this proposal, I saw that these are really needs – not wants – that will benefit our kids as they grow up and learn here,” she says. “These are table stakes things that we should be supporting as parents and community members.”

For more information about the bond, visit the district's website. 

To learn more about YES for Kids, click here.