While the election did not turn out the way we hoped, your dedication and passion for making improvements to Mattawan Schools will be felt for a long time. We appreciate all of the efforts, large and small, that were made on behalf of the students, teachers and school community. We know many of you spent long hours working toward a positive outcome. You have our deepest thanks,
The Vote Yes for Mattawan Schools Committee
We have been made aware that some members of the Mattawan Community have received a green postcard in the mail that references the upcoming bond election. The sponsors of the postcard have grossly misrepresented the facts.
This postcard is not sponsored by the school district. From the postcard: “If the property you own in the district has a taxable value of $100,000 your taxes could increase by $340 in 2012 and by $340 for every additional $1,000 in taxable value. In the future 29 years the millage could increase 4.5 mills.” THIS IS NOT FACTUALLY CORRECT.
For accurate information, please visit the School district’s website at: http://www.mattawanschools.org/mattawancs/site/default.asp Please click on the debt levy chart and financial information to see the factual information.
Here’s the MLive article: http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2011/11/mailing_sent_to_mattawan_resid.html
The Kalamazoo Gazette endorsed our efforts to improve Mattawan School facilities.
Many interested community members have written the Kalamazoo Gazette with their reasons to support the bond. Read them here.
Get more information about the bond before Election Day:
After May’s bond vote, feedback from the community indicated a smaller request to improve Mattawan school facilities could be supported. The district trimmed this bond issue to reflect a consensus:
Click to enlarge
What common thread connects these reasons? Our Schools!
Mattawan Schools need your help. The district has added more than 400 students in the last 10 years. Our Elementary School buildings are at capacity and were not designed for 21st Century learning. Cardboard dividers are used in hallways to create learning centers! Next fall, seven additional full day kindergarten classrooms are needed.
The district has been a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars, keeping the millage rate low over the last decade, but we need to make an investment now to maintain our community.
Help us keep Mattawan a great place to live and grow.
Tell Your Friends, Share your Support, Get Updates and Reminders.
On Wednesday, Oct. 26 the district held a Community Forum. Superintendent Bird made a presentation, and answered questions about the bond. Tours of the Elementary buildings followed.
The Kalamazoo Gazette summarized the meeting in an article.