2025 Bond Proposal Information- Meeting May 12
Fellow Bulldogs,
In the fall of 2023, Mason Public Schools (MPS) passed a new five-year strategic plan. One of the four primary focuses of the plan is Facilities and Infrastructure improvements. The plan calls for the district to prepare for a bond initiative during the 2025 calendar year. The proposed School Improvement Bond, which will be presented to voters in November if approved by the Board of Education at the June 26 budget hearing, would request the Board NOT raise taxes from the 2025 assessment level.
Community members are invited to an Informational Meeting on Monday, May 12 at 6 pm at Mason City Hall to learn more about the recommended School Improvement Bond which will be presented to the Board of Education in June.
The proposed School Improvement Bond is part of the district’s long-term vision and plan to continuously improve and update school facilities. In 2023, as the final work was being completed in Phase I of our school renovations as outlined in our 2017 School Improvement Bond, the work was already starting on a plan for Phase II. Several members of the MPS Administration, along with board members, consultants, engineers, architects and construction consultants began to evaluate the next round of needs for the district. As originally planned, the 2017 School Improvement Bond provided significant improvements to all of our elementary schools and only a limited number of improvements to Mason Middle School and Mason High School. This next phase will shift the focus to the priority needs of those two buildings as well as our transportation building.
The district and its partners spent 12 months reviewing the district’s needs and looking at potential solutions. In January 2025, community members were given a chance to provide feedback via a community survey. More than 1000 people responded to the survey and provided valuable insights about what the community thought should be prioritized as well as what the community would be willing to support. All of this information was then taken to a new committee comprised of 24 members including teachers, administration, parents, business owners and community members. This committee spent three months visiting schools, listening to options and reviewing the survey. We are happy to say that in our April meeting the committee unanimously voted on a proposed plan to send to the Mason Schools Board of Educations.
This recommendation would request that the Board does NOT raise taxes from the 2025 assessment level. Due to MPS being good stewards of taxpayers’ money, their 1995 bond will be paid off this year. This provides an opportunity to issue new bonds for an estimated $65 million and maintain taxes at the same level that taxpayers are already paying. This $65 million would then be focused on significant renovations of the current middle school, the current performing arts auditorium at the high school, the transportation building and needed renovations to the current high school. These renovations would take place in stages from 2026-2033.
We hope you will join us for the Informational Meeting on May 12 where there will be a 30-minute presentation followed by an open Q&A session. The presentation will be recorded and shared online for those who are unable to attend. In addition, community members are also invited to attend the Board of Education meetings on June 12 and June 26 and make public comments before the Board takes any action.
Thank you for your continued engagement, please feel free to reach out with any questions.
Sincerely,
Dr. Gary Kinzer, Superintendent
Kurt Creamer, School Improvement Bond Committee Chair
Related News Articles
During a community informational meeting on May 12, 2025, the School Bond Committee shared details about a proposed School Improvement Bond. The committee reviewed the outcomes of the 2017 bond, shared results of the January 2025 community survey, gave an overview of the proposed bond and provided additional details outlining how funds would be allocated.
The proposed bond would be a zero mil increase School Improvement Bond expected to yield approximately $65 million dollars. If approved, the bond would fund major renovations at Mason Middle School, improvements and upgrades to the Mason High School auditorium, and a new transportation facility. It would also support technology enhancements and continued building updates across the district.
Congratulations to the cast and crew of the North Aurelius production of Disney’s Aladdin Kids! The students presented the musical to their fellow students at North Aurelius and took to the stage in the Mason High School Auditorium for a community performance last week. Check out more photos from the production and the video on Facebook.
The project, presented in conjunction with the Wharton Center for the Performing Arts, gave students and staff support and guidance as they rehearsed and perfected the show. Students also had the opportunity to perform with all other participating schools, including Alaiedon Elementary students, at the Wharton Center.
Congratulations to the members of the Mason High School Class of 2025 who have placed in the Top 10% of graduates for academics.
Parents, community members and Mason residents are invited to an Informational Meeting on Monday, May 12 at 6 PM at Mason City Hall to learn more about the proposed 2025 Bond. The meeting will include a 30-minute presentation followed by an open question and answer session. Those interested in learning more about the 2025 Bond recommendations being made to the Board of Education are encouraged to attend the meeting.
By: Dr. Janet Alleman, MPS Instructional Consultant and Professor Emeritus at Michigan State University.
While visiting the United States, four graduate students from South Africa visited the district to learn more about education and learning in our country. The students visited several buildings and engaged in dialogue with students, mental health specialists, teacher coaches, classroom teachers and building leaders.
