Dear Taylor Schools Community,
We all know that the hottest topic in the Taylor Schools Community is what the status is for construction of our new high school facility. These questions come up at board meetings in the public comment section, they come up in the conversations that we all have while out in the community, and quite frankly it is the first thing that any of us are asked when we share that we are part of the Taylor School District. With this in mind, it is time to update the entire community on the status of our high school plans.
Since the passing of the bond initiative in 2021, there has been drastic rises in inflation. We know that all of us have felt the effects of this inflation everytime we go grocery shopping. This inflation has been even more drastic in the field of construction where costs for the building materials for a new building have risen by 35% to 65% depending on the material. This occurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. I also want to be clear, our problems did not just start with inflation. The amount of money that was estimated for a brand new high school was well under the amount that was needed for new construction. These dramatic increases and being on the low side of the money needed to start have created a situation where we have had to cut back on the design and programming of what would go into the new facility, this included cutting the design for a pool, auditorium, auxiliary gym, CTE spaces, and the Black Box Theater. It has become quite clear that what can be delivered for the money we have available would not be adequate for the needs of our students and our community.
Since this realization, the Taylor School District Board of Education and administration have explored many different options to do our best to deliver on the promises of the bond campaign. These include:
Considering paying the overage from the general fund.
It was decided that was not sustainable or fiscally responsible.
Scaling back plans for the new building.
It was decided that was not fair to the needs of our students or taxpayers.
Renovating Brake Middle School and adding onto it as a new high school facility.
It was clear this would run over the budget.
Purchasing the former MASCO Headquarters on Van Born Rd. and renovating it since renovations are less expensive.
This would also run over the budget and involve purchasing the land.
Redesigning and overhauling the current high school facility.
This was the most fiscally responsible and polling data showed that there would be support for such a plan.
Starting another bond campaign to secure the money to complete the original plan for the new high school.
Polling data showed there would not be support to pass another bond.
Ultimately, the course of action that is most responsible is to not proceed with further construction, and to not sell any more bonds at this time. The board of education and administration have thoroughly examined all possibilities as listed above and feel that this is the fairest and most responsible course of action at this time. All of us have come to the conclusion that rather than delivering a product that was not as promised, it was best to stop the process before hitting a point of no return in the process. Not selling bonds at this time will bring tax relief to the residents and property owners within the Taylor School District.
From the first sale of bonds, bond money has been spent on playgrounds and elementary school renovations with roughly $18 million that will need to be spent. $100 million more remains from the two bond sales that have not taken place. We have consulted our attorney with Miller Canfield to advise on how to proceed with not selling the rest of the authorized bond sales. We received an opinion that states that once the community has voted and authorized a school district to sell bonds, that authority can never be rescinded. Although we have determined that we will not sell any additional bonds for renovations at this time, a future board of education will be within their legal rights to sell them. We are dedicating ourselves to not sell those bonds until we have a clearer picture of the district needs, the public desires, and the full budget forecast. However, once a more comprehensive plan exists, the district will retain the authority to cash in those bonds at a future date. Any such decision would involve input from the community as to how to best use those funds.
We know that this is not the update that we wanted to hear, but this is the most responsible course of action to take at this time. When asked to come home to Taylor as Interim Superintendent, the biggest thing that I was looking forward to was our new high school facility. I know in my heart, that as much as I may want this to happen for our students, it would be fiscally irresponsible to proceed, and hurt our students, and District in the long run.
With that said, I am at heart an optimist, and I know that we will continue to revisit our options into the future so that when the conditions change, we will have the ability to act and provide better opportunities to our students. We also want it to be clear that the Taylor School District Board of Education and its administration are always dedicated to our core mission of educating, engaging, and empowering ALL of our students, and we will only be able to do so by making sure that all decisions provide for the long term stability of our school district. Thank you for your time, patience, and understanding.
Sincerely,
Michael B. Wegher
Superintendent
Taylor School District
High School Construction Update Communication