After back-to-back failed tax proposals, St. Johns Public Schools is borrowing money without voter approval to bring an early learning center to the district.
In May, the school district asked voters for a $99.8 million bond proposal to bring major upgrades to buildings. It failed by more than 1,500 votes.
The ask was just one year after a $92 million request failed in the district in May 2024.
Instead, the school board approved moving forward with a $3 million loan, allowing the district to make renovations to a new space.
The district had originally proposed about $20 million for an early childhood learning center in earlier bond proposals that failed.
Now, the district is moving forward with purchasing the former Quest building at 106 W. Tolles Drive on the north side of the city of St. Johns. Additionally, the district will sell East Olive Elementary School this summer as a part of the transition.
The board approved the purchase of the new building with a 6-1 vote, and voted 7-0 to approve the sale of East Olive Elementary School. East Olive, located east of Old US-27 in Olive Township between St. Johns and DeWitt, closed in June 2017 due to declining enrollment. In 2018, it reopened as a community center.
District officials said getting East Olive up to code to house the Early Learning Center would require $3.85 million, which wouldn’t include any cosmetic renovations. They also said the new building is more centrally located. Most of the district’s schools are in St. Johns, although the district still operates Eureka Elementary north of St. Johns in Greenbush Township and Riley Elementary, west of Old US-27 north of DeWitt.
The $3 million would be financed separately from the district’s existing bond debt which is being repaid through previously-approved voter millages and instead would be paid from the district’s general fund.
The goal is to sell the bonds in April with renovations scheduled for summer and a fall building opening.
The new early learning center will house programs for infants, toddlers and preschoolers, intended to better prepare small children for kindergarten in the district.
District officials said the building is 10,230 square feet on 2 acres. The district is set to buy the property for $300,000, and renovations and retrofitting the building is expected to require just under $2.5 million.
The building would allow for eight classrooms, office space and common areas, and allow for a potential expansion for a gymnasium, kitchen and additional classrooms.
Contact Karly Graham at kgraham@lsj.com. Follow her on X at @KarlyGrahamJrn.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: After 2 failed tax proposals, St. Johns schools to buy building for childcare center
Reporting by Karly Graham, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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