Ferndale voters stood behind their school district in 2020 by approving a significant school improvement bond and Superintendent Camille Hibbler hopes they will come out again on May 6 and continue their support.

The $114 million, 30-year bond will focus on improvements to Ferndale Middle School and High School, which are in the same building on Pinecrest Street. The millage rate will remain at or below 7-mills. The estimated millage to pay the proposed bonds in the first year is 1.35 mills ($1.35 per $1,000 of taxable value) and the average annual millage to retire each series of the bonds is 3.58 mills annually ($3.58 per $1,000 of taxable value).

The three-story building has over 1,200 students enrolled and will see significant improvements.

“This bond is critically important because it will complete the work that we need to have done on our flagship building,” said Hibbler. “We are looking at every classroom and every science lab in that building doubling in size.”

The bond will provide:

• Separating middle school (6-8 grade) and high school (9-12 grade) by rebuilding the west wing and separating spaces

• Modernize and enlarge learning environments and common areas

• Increased safety and student services through new middle school offices on the main floor

• Building a new high school band room and renovating the current band room for middle schoolers

• Safer entries and improved student services, particularly for middle schoolers.

In March 2020, district voters overwhelmingly passed a $124 million bond to build a new elementary school and make major improvements to classrooms, buildings and other facilities.

The bond passed 8,260 yes to 1,981 no. Just over 78%of 10,117 ballots cast approved the measure.

In addition to the new elementary building, the district added a new STEAM lab to the upper elementary, a new parking lot and security entrance at the high school and upgraded the tri-county educational center.

While the middle school/high school building had a new roof and auditorium built, this bond will pay to reconfigure and update every area of the building.

“It will remain three floors, just repurposed,” said Hibbler. “It will be what is best for our 11-year-olds and our 18-year-olds.”

Hibbler has been out stumping for the bond and received positive feedback on the proposal.

“My opinion, from being out in the community, is that it is absolutely agreed upon that this is a need,” said Hibbler. “This is something that the community sees as a real need for the district.”

If the proposal passes, work would begin in 2027 at the earliest.