Ferndale Schools Community Passes $125 Million Bond

By Bill Good

ON MARCH 10TH VOTERS PASSED A TRANSFORMATIONAL BALLOT INITIATIVE FOR FERNDALE SCHOOLS. This ballot measure called for a $125 million bond at no expected tax rate increase. The $125 million will be issued in what is referred to as a “3-series,” meaning bonds will be sold at three different times: 2020 ($53M), 2023 ($35.5M), and 2026 ($36M). The three main areas addressed in this bond are SAFETY, SUSTAINABILITY and RE-IMAGINING THE CLASSROOM.

SAFETY

CONTROLLING WHO CAN ACCESS OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND WHEN IS VITALLY IMPORTANT for the safety of everyone on our campuses. We have a plan to improve each of our buildings toward two major goals: Deterrence & Prevention.

Deterrence is all about reducing the risks of unauthorized entry which starts with presenting a positive security image. If an intruder is faced with a secure vestibule and adequate monitoring and prevention tools, the likelihood of an incident is dramatically reduced. This bond will allow Ferndale Schools to build a secured entry vestibule at each school.

SUSTAINABILITY

ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND ENSURING OUR STUDENTS ARE “WARM AND DRY” inside of their schools isn’t exciting; it’s expected. Repairing and improving infrastructure will benefit the long term sustainability of our district. This includes expensive items like roofs and boilers. This bond will be used to safeguard our community’s investment in our facilities. But more than simply replacing an aging roof or boiler system, these funds will allow Ferndale Schools to create a comprehensive, decade-long, facility improvement plan which will allow work to be done in a systematic way leading to significant energy savings.

REIMAGINING THE CLASSROOM

WHEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS WERE ESTABLISHED, THEY WERE DESIGNED to train students for the labor force of the time: primarily factory work performing a minimal number of tasks. Today, we are seeing automation take over these jobs, resulting in a return to the renaissance principles of innovation and collaboration in the workspace. Entrepreneurs and employees alike are expected to perform multiple tasks using multiple sets of tools, whether working in the physical or digital space. This has driven a major change in the mission of public education.