The $66 million bond approved for DeWitt Public Schools Nov. 2 means work can begin next year.
The six-year bond is a renewal of the previous bond, meaning there will be no tax rate increase in the 2021 levy. It will cover district needs such as addressing aged buildings, updating educational technology, and improving athletics, arts, and extracurriculars. The vote passed overwhelmingly with 70.9% of the 3,354 voters in favor of the bond.
“What an amazing day to be a DeWitt Panther! Thank you to the community for supporting the bond proposal. We are grateful for the community’s continued support of our students, staff and district,” DeWitt Public Schools posted on Facebook.
Most of the funds, 86%, will be put toward upgrading building infrastructure, while 7% will go towards technology and the other 7% will go toward athletics, arts, and extracurriculars.
DeWitt superintendent Dr. Shanna Spickard said she was not necessarily surprised to see the bond pass after having many conversations with community members leading up to the election. If it had not passed, the district would have had to reattempt to pass the bond to make the necessary upgrades throughout the district.
“I was both relieved and excited about the overwhelming support of the community,” Spickard said. “Now, a week later, it’s quite evident of all the work there is to do over the next six years.”
While the planned improvements are exciting, the brakes have to be pumped a little bit. Changes will not be apparent right away. First, the bond funds have to be received. During that time, the district will plan which projects will be prioritized and how long each one should take.
“It’s not as simple as waving a wand; it will be a work in progress over the next several years,” Spickard said.
One change people will be able to notice within the next year is with the football stadium. By next fall, a new artificial turf will be installed, which is good timing, after DeWitt’s district title game against Mount Pleasant had to be moved to Grand Ledge High School due to poor field conditions at DeWitt’s stadium. A new press box and lighting system is expected to be completed for the 2023 season as well as a new running track.
Spickard said that while the upgrades to the football stadium are not necessarily the most important, a couple factors play into the stadium being prioritized. First, the district does not want to disrupt learning. Installing HVAC systems inside the schools can be noisy and distracting to students and staff, so much of the construction inside the school will be done in the summer. Second, the timing aligns well to install the new turf field before practices begin in late summer.
“Community members who have been at the games and performances have also seemed excited that it passed,” Spickard said. “I think we are all feeling hopeful to see our district continue on the path of excellence.”