Millard Public Schools asked voters to approve a $158 million bond to enhance school facilities across the district. At press time, preliminary ballot counts showed 64% support of the measure, so it is likely to pass.
This initiative, which occurs approximately every five years, focuses on crucial safety, security, and infrastructure improvements. $77 million goes towards safety and security for our district, $40 million toward interior improvements and renovations, and facility and maintenance renovations are estimated to cost around $41 million.
“Bond issues can only be used for capital improvements, things like buildings, brick and mortar, other capital sort or investments,” MPS Superintendent Dr. John Schwartz said. “In our district, we have 35 schools, more than 3,300,000 square feet of facility space,” he said.
MPS serves an area of 582 acres and is one of the larger districts in the Metro. This bond will allow for renovations for schools built from the 1960s-1980s, in the northern and central parts of the district.
“Schools we are looking to renovate were schools built from 1984-1995 […] there are eight schools that would receive renovation,” Schwartz said.
Eight schools are slated for renovation, ensuring our facilities remain conducive to quality education. Within the budget of $77 million that was set aside for safety improvements, the district hopes to add secure entry vestibules to 21 buildings. Other aspects of security will continue to receive funds. Changing classrooms to a closed concept, security cameras, and secure door systems.
“The single biggest investment is in ensuring that all of our school buildings have a secure entry vestibule so that we know who is getting into the building and there’s a number of checkpoints they have to go through before they have access to our students and our staff,” Schwartz said.
Another important aspect of the bond is the updates and renovations to the Young Adult Program.
“What many do not know is that we educate students with significant special needs through the age of 21. It’s required by law and it’s the right thing to do,” he said.
This portion of the bond would include a redesign of building space, as the current Young Adult program is located behind Millard Central Middle School in an old STS classroom. This update would revitalize the space adding moving walls and creating a more usable education space. Another Import renovation that would benefit would be the Millard North STS Classroom.
“There is a skilled trade space at Millard North that is original to the building […] and the shop space is in need of attention,” Schwartz said.
This modernization of this classroom and multi-use space is estimated to cost around $13 million and would include a redesign of the STS classrooms to bring it up to higher standards like at Millard South and Millard West.
“The facilities that our students are in are a big part of the educational experience […] Our old schools that need renovations we have timed it out so that we could go in and do a light renovation and it will never get too old,” Schwartz said.
A key aspect of the Bond is that it will not increase any taxes. Bonds are based on the value of your property and reflect the home’s value. This tax also applies to businesses. The larger the property or building, the more it’s taxed. The Bond levy taxes by cent had decreased over the year. For the current bond from 2023 through 2024, the tax was 11.50 cents. From the last bond levy, the tax was accepted to increase by one cent but has decreased by 1.5 cents.
Maintaining district facilities is a key part of the education of our students and this bond would allow for the continued service from MPS to our students, staff, and community.
